Double arson probe at old people's home

Around 40 elderly residents of the Ormsby Centre, East Street, had to be evacuated to the safety of the home's communal area after an automatic fire alarm went off at 8.24am yesterday (Wednesday).

Littlehampton firefighters climbed through a first-floor window into a bedroom where the first blaze had started in a bed. After putting out that fire, they checked the rest of the building and found another small fire involving bedding on the same floor, about 30 metres away.

Fire commander Trevor Worsfold said: "It's unusual to have two fires on the same floor, quite a distance apart. It is a cause for concern."

An elderly woman had been in the bedroom at the time the fire

broke out and she was led to safety along with all the other residents.

A fire investigation officer and a police scenes-of-crime officer both carried out inquiries at the home and the investigation will be continued by the police.

Management at the Ormsby Centre were also carrying out their own inquiry.

The two fire crews used breathing apparatus and hosereel jets to tackle the bedroom fire. Damage was limited to the bed.