Brunswick Terrace Hove fire: Residents to be relocated

The crews were called to Brunswick Terrace, Hove at 1.21pm yesterday after reports the fire had broken out in a cavity wall.

Roads in the surrounding area were blocked as eight fire engines and an aerial ladder were joined by the ambulance service’s hazardous area response team and police officers.

The fire was affecting properties at all levels of the five-storey residential block, but had not spread along the terrace.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said the cause of the blaze is currently being investigated.

Brunswick Terrace is a Grade-I listed development on Hove seafront. It was built during the Regency era between 1824 and the 1830s.

It is understood the fire was between number nine and number ten, and the building was evacuated as a precaution.

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Some residents have not been able to return to their homes and have had to be relocated, while others were allowed to return.

Steven Chantrey was visiting and said: “The fire alarms went off and as we opened the door the firemen were coming up the stairs telling everybody to get out of the building.

“There were several fire engines at the scene and the road was blocked as a result.

“They said fire came up between the walls. The building at number nine and number ten was evacuated.

“But I don’t think other residents have had to leave the building. I went across the road and could see a lot of smoke. It looked like it was coming out of the chimney or out of the roof.

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“Fire crews wearing breathing respirators went into number nine. Then suddenly the smoke just stopped.”

He said residents at number ten could return, but not those who were in number nine which appears to have been more badly affected by the fire.

Meanwhile, there were reports that firefighters had to cut holes in walls of people’s properties to inspect the cavity area to make sure it was safe.

Mr Chantrey added: “I think a lot of properties will have had some water and smoke damage due to the fire.”

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Incident Commander Chris Baker said crews worked hard at the scene to both find the fire and to put it out.

He said the fire crews had to stop it spreading through further cavities in the building and cut away through walls to make sure there were no more hotspots.