Brighton council block fire leaves room 'burned to pieces'

Emergency services were called to Barclay House in Wellington Road, Brighton, yesterday afternoon after residents saw smoke rising outside their windows.

Vinny Stephenson, who lives on one of the upper floors in the council block, said: "I was just at home watching TV at about 4pm when a wave of black smoke started covering the whole balcony.

"It happened in seconds - just like in a movie.

"The next minute someone was knocking on our door to say we need to evacuate.

Residents were evacuated after the fire started in the ground floor bin room at Barclay House

"We looked downstairs and there were these humongous flames - the whole of the bin room was on fire."

Vinny said residents waited outside the building for more than two hours as fire fighters tackled the blaze in the ground floor bin area.

The 25-year-old support worker said: "The whole bin room is completely shut down now - it's been burnt to pieces and a window was blown out."

A window was blown out in the fire

Vinny said he feared for neighbouring residents in the building who were unable to evacuate their homes due to health issues.

He said: "There's a gentleman with asthma on the second floor who said he was stuck on his balcony as he didn't have the strength in his lungs to get out with all the smoke.

Vinny said some residents were unable to evacuate due to health issues

"Another man is in his 80s was unable to leave as he has mobility issues and couldn't manage it.

"It was horrific and terrifying. I thought our home was gone."

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said the cause of the fire is currently unknown.

A spokeswoman said: "At 3.50pm we were called to attend a fire at a residential block of flats on Wellington Road, Brighton. 

"Crews from Brighton, Roedean, Lewes, Hove and Newhaven attended to extinguish a fire in the bin store of the building." 

Update at 4.30pm: Police said they believe the fire was started on purpose and they are appealing for information about the incident.

They said: ""Sussex Police are investigating after being advised by fire service colleagues of a suspicious fire at a block of flats in Brighton.

"Police were alerted just before 4pm on Thursday that firefighters were dealing with a fire in a bin room at Barclay House in Wellington Road. 

"The fire had been dealt with by the time officers arrived, but is believed to have been started deliberately.

"Occupants of the flats are assisting police with their enquiries, but anyone with information is asked to report online or call 101 quoting serial 867 of 14/05. Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."