Residents have described the terrifying moment an “explosion” and fire plunged a tower block into darkness.
People living in Grove Court in The Drive, Hove, and neighbours nearby were shocked by a “very loud explosion” in the ten-storey building’s basement plant room just before 8pm on Tuesday.
Tim Verrecchia, 19, lives in a first floor flat above the room where the fire started.
He said: "I heard a very loud boom, when suddenly I felt the whole building shake. It travelled up and through the building. It went pitch black.
"I walked into my room, to see flames reflected in the windows of the building opposite.
"I started to panic, and I could hear my neighbours panic too."
Tim, who is studying countryside management at Plumpton College, said: "The fire alarm didn't go off straight away, so I was a bit confused. My first reaction was to grab as much as I could, as I wasn't sure how bad the fire was going to be.
"However I decided to just get out instead.
"People started to shout, banging on each other's doors telling them to 'get out'. The stairwell was filled with smoke.
"I didn't realise the extent of it until I'd got out of the building."
Once Tim had left the building, he met his neighbour Marcello Montagnani, who said he made the initial 999 call.
Firefighters arrived shortly afterwards with eight fire engines called to the scene.
Marcello lives on the ground floor, directly above the plant room. His window was badly smoke damaged.
He said: "I heard a big bang, and my lodger came running out. They told me 'there's flames, come and have a look'. I looked out of the window and I saw quite severe flames coming from the boiler room.
"We exited the building and called 999 - I was in shock. I thought my flat was a goner, I feared the whole building was going to go.”
Firefighters instructed residents to keep their windows open where possible, especially in communal areas.
But in the initial chaos one window became detached from its hinges.
Several neighbours hung on to it until fire crews could lift it to safety.
A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to reports of a domestic dwelling fire in The Drive, Hove at 7.44pm.
“Seven pumps were called, supported by one aerial ladder platform and five officers from both West Sussex and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.
“The fire was discovered in the electrical intake room in the basement. The cause of the fire was accidental.
“One casualty has been reported and left in the care of the ambulance service.”
Video courtesy of Tim Verrecchio
A woman was seen receiving medical treatment on the scene, however she did not need to go to hospital.
A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: “Ambulance crews attended and a woman was assessed and treated at the scene, but did not require further hospital treatment.”
A power cut, believed to have been caused by the fire, meant almost 400 UK Power Networks customers around The Drive were without power. The road was in darkness as street lights and traffic lights went out.
After fire and rescue teams made the area safe, people were allowed to re-enter their homes at around 8.45pm although they were without any power.
Tim said he would keep his fridge and freezer closed for as long as the power was off in a bid to save the contents.
Another resident said: "We're just going to live on torches for now."
This morning, a generator was installed on the pavement outside Grove Court to power the block.
Hamways, which manages the building, has been approached for comment.
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