Three firefighters were injured in an explosion at an 18th century home.
Neighbours living near the former bakery said the “loud bang” was caused by oxygen canisters exploding as the property was ravaged by flames.
Last night East Sussex Fire and Rescue was still investigating the cause of the blaze at the detached house, thought to be worth about £240,000.
One woman said the family living in the Nutley property off the A22, which was closed for hours while firefighters battled the blaze, were not in when the incident happened.
She said she felt sorry for the man who owned the home, who she only knew by the nickname Muttley.
The woman said: “The fire started on the ground floor, and now there is hardly any roof.
“It was well alight. It stinks of smoke.”
A East Sussex Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said firefighters were checking for people inside the home in High Street at 9.35am yesterday when there was an explosion and three men were injured.
Firefighters were treated by paramedics and taken to hospital, but were all released by last night. Yesterday a spokeswoman from the fire service said the firefighters had suffered minor injuries and were being treated as a precaution.
The A22 between Straight Half Mile, near Maresfield, and Chelwood Gate Road, in Nutley, was closed in both directions until about 3pm by Sussex Police.
An East Sussex Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “Crews from Uckfield and Crowborough were called to a two-storey residential property and found smoke coming from the building.
“Additional fire engines were sent from Uckfield and Forest Row along with a control unit from Lewes and a water bowser from Uckfield.
“Crews used four breathing apparatus, one hose reel jet and foam to tackle the blaze in the ground floor of the property.
“Once all persons had been accounted for, ongoing risk assessments at the scene meant crews were withdrawing from the property when there was a loud bang.
“A fire investigation will be carried out in due course.”
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