Brighton fire in photos: emergency services tackle huge blaze at the Royal Albion Hotel

Photos from the scene show the Royal Albion Hotel alight with dozens of firefighters and emergency service workers attending.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that firefighters from Preston Circus, Newhaven, Hove, Lewes, Eastbourne, Pevensey, as well as appliances from West Sussex were called out at 5.24pm to reports of smoke.

An ESFRS spokesperson said yesterday: “Four breathing apparatus wearers are using two main jets and an Ariel Ladder Platform to extinguish the fire. The Old Steine and part of Kings Road have been closed while the incident is ongoing.”

They also asked the public to avoid the area.

At 7.30pm the fire service said that they remained at the scene of ‘a now 15 appliance fire’ with crews using a High Volume Pump and three Ariel Ladder Platforms.

They confirmed than an Incident Command Centre had been set up at the scene and said they were working with other emergency services and agencies including Sussex Police, The Environment Agency and Water Board.

Crews continued to a the High Volume Pump and three Ariel Ladder Platforms to fight the blaze late into the evening but said there were no reports of injuries.

At 11pm the fire service announced that high winds were creating difficult conditions to tackle the blaze, saying that crews would continue to deal with the fire throughout the night.

A 5am on Sunday, July 16, a fire service spoekesperson said: “East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service are scaling back operations at Old Steine, Brighton. Six appliances, two Ariel Ladder Platforms remain on scene.”

At 10.30am a fire service spokesperson said: “Firefighters remain on scene using Ariel Ladder Platforms and ground monitors to tackle the fire.”

At 10.47am West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said that some of their crews supported ESFRS colleagues throughout the incident. They said: “A number of @WestSussexFire resources, special appliances and officers attended and will continue to support.”

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s new state-of-the-art training centre and fire station became operational last week. Click here to see photos from Sussex World’s visit to this impressive site.

At 3.25pm on Sunday an East Sussex Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “We’ve got six appliances on the scene, two aerial ladder platforms, focusing efforts on extinguishing the fire in the West Wing.” They added that road closures are being reviewed.

At 8pm last night (Sunday, July 16), an East Sussex Fire and Rescue spokesperson added: “The incident is ongoing, firefighters are using ground monitors, main jets and an aeriel ladder platform to firefight. We expect to remain on scene through the evening.

“Road closures are in place along Kings Road from West Street along to Steine Street and the Old Steine. Closures will be in place overnight.

“Please stay away from the area and keep windows and doors closed.

“There are still no reports of casualties, an investigation is underway, but is not expected to conclude for some time.

“We continue to receive significant support from Sussex Police, Ambulance services, Southern Water, Building Control and BHCC Emergency planning.”

This story will be updated as more information comes in.