Bognor Regis fire: ‘Flames were 15ft high’

An eye-witness has described watching a ‘vicious fire’ ‘suddenly take hold’ of a shop in Bognor Regis.
The roof has completely gone and the second floor collapsedThe roof has completely gone and the second floor collapsed
The roof has completely gone and the second floor collapsed

Neighbouring resident Richard Gaston said at it’s fiercest, the flames reached between 15 and 20ft above Keith Jay Carpets and Furniture store in London Road last night.

Mr Gaston, 66, said: “I live round the corner in Lyon Street and I looked out my window and saw smoke coming from this direction.

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“The girl next-door said the bingo hall had gone up so I walked down and saw that it was actually the carpet shop.

50 firefighters tackled the blaze in London Road, Bognor, and remained there over night. PICTURE BY EDDIE MITCHELL SUS-150917-10240900150 firefighters tackled the blaze in London Road, Bognor, and remained there over night. PICTURE BY EDDIE MITCHELL SUS-150917-102409001
50 firefighters tackled the blaze in London Road, Bognor, and remained there over night. PICTURE BY EDDIE MITCHELL SUS-150917-102409001

“I got here about 7pm and at first the flames were just on the left hand side of the roof but then suddenly it went up, it was obviously getting hotter and hotter inside.

“It just caught hold and it was so vicious it pushed the smoke upwards over the town.

“The fire service got a platform ladder but only about 10pm and were then able to tackle it from above.

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“Even when the top floors and roof were burning the lights in the shop were still on.

“I think part of the roof was made of fibreglass because it just went up, the flames were licking up about 15 or 20 feet above the building at one point.”

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