Fire crews tackling ‘severe’ blaze in Sidley

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) were called at 6.21pm to reports of a fire at a residential property on Sidley Street.

Crews from Battle, Bexhill, Hastings and The Ridge have attended the scene. Firefighters are using four breathing apparatus, one hose reel jet and foam to fight the flames.

Residents in the area are being asked to keep windows and doors closed until the smoke has cleared.

At 8.18pm, an ESFRS spokesman said: “We are making steady progress with this incident. We are asking people to avoid the area as some roads will be closed.”

Bexhill Fire Station tweeted to say crews from Bexhill, Hastings, The Ridge and Battle are dealing with a ‘severe roof fire’ in Sidley. It also said all persons were accounted for.

At 11pm, firefighters reinspected the scene and were satisfied the fire had been put out, and left the scene.

The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage to the building are still being investigated, a fire service spokesman said.