Seven people rescued during early morning blaze drama

Roughly 35 fire fighters from Littlehampton, East Preston, Worthing and Bognor were called to battle a burning basement flat, in South Terrace, shortly after 5am.

Residents were alerted to the fire when the complex’s smoke alarm sounded.

Many rushed to nearby balconies with one man even climbing onto the roof of the property to escape the flames and smoke clogging the communal staircase.

A 93-year-old pensioner was forced to climb onto her first floor balcony to escape smoke, which was described by one resident as, “thick and black.”

Another four people, and a dog, were pulled to safety from a first floor roof at the rear of the property, by fire fighters from East Preston.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, described the scene of the early morning blaze.

She said: “I opened my front door into the corridor and was greeted by thick, black, choking smoke. We couldn’t get out.

“I was forced to climb out onto my balcony and wait to be rescued. The smoke was too thick to escape any other way.

Fire crews, with breathing apparatus, had to force entry into the four-storey building, by breaking down the door.

Several of the stranded residents then gave directions to their whereabouts, over their mobile phones, to fire control operators at the Command and Mobilising Centre of West Sussex Fire and Rescue.

The four people and dog at the rear of the property were rescued via a ladder and the men on the roof was lifted to safety by an aerial ladder platform. The other two residents were led down the stairs to street outside.

Incredibly no one was seriously injured during the blaze. Three people were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene with one being taken to Worthing Hospital for further treatment.

Gary Towson, of West Sussex Fire and Rescue, said: “All the residents were exceedingly calm during the incident.

“The elderly lady was on her phone talking to the operators the whole time. She was so calm.

“She even threw down her keys to crews downstairs to try and let them in.

“The fire was located in the basement level of the staircase and extinguished but it had caused extensive smoke damage throughout the staircase.”

The cause of the fire is now being investigated, with accidental ignition not yet being ruled out.

Some residents have now returned to the property, while others are reportedly staying with friends and family.