Loving mum dies in flat blaze

A DEVASTATING fire which killed a 54-year-old woman and left her family homeless has shocked the community.

The tragedy claimed the life of language teacher Sheila Hill.

Baptist Church colleagues described her as a loving mother, a humble person and dedicated Christian.

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Her husband Alan and family of four were left with just the smoke-grimed clothes in which they escaped from the fierce fire last Friday morning which destroyed their maisonette and the shop beneath.

The blaze took hold with terrifying speed. As the first fire appliance sped past the Observer office, Sackville Road was already blocked from side to side with smoke.

A dense black cloud was pouring from a second floor window. Within minutes, the first and third floors were also belching smoke. The windows of newly-established Weald Mobility housing a showroom display of invalid scooters swiftly darkened as the entire block became heavily smoke-logged.

Flames appeared at second floor windows as the first fire crews to arrive fought the blaze from ground level.

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At the height of the blaze, 80 firefighters and 14 fire engines were in attendance.

By the time a turntable ladder had fought its way through the traffic flames were leaping through the roof.

Police moved back the large crowd of onlookers. Safety cordons closed the road to shoppers from the traffic lights to Marina as masonry and melted window frames began falling into the road.

The roof fell in with a low roar as firefighters directed water down into the fire from the top of the turntable ladder.

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The fire was first reported at 8.41. The road was still packed with emergency vehicles by late afternoon.

The town centre swiftly became grid-locked as East Sussex Fire and Rescue brought in more and more appliances to contain the blaze.

Not only Sackville Road but Western Road and Parkhurst Road were closed. Crews from Bexhill were joined by colleagues from Hastings and The Ridge, Battle, Eastbourne, Pevensey and, Burwash.

Two fire officers were slightly hurt by falling masonry.

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