Fire in Crawley ‘involves 10 properties, with four seriously damaged’

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service were alerted to a ‘fire involving four properties’ at Ash Keys at 2.41pm on Monday, August 3.

But in an update posted on Facebook at 4.48pm, the fire service confirmed the blaze had spread to more properties.

A West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: “The fire involves 10 properties, with four seriously damaged. Crews are working hard to bring the fire under control and to extinguish it.

“We would like to use this opportunity to remind people that the Fire Severity Index, which measures how severe a fire would be if one were to break out, remains very high in West Sussex due to the prolonged warm, dry weather.

“We are encouraging people to avoid using disposable barbecues and having bonfires in outdoor spaces, pick up litter if you see it, extinguish smoking materials properly, and to report any signs of fire immediately by calling 999.”