VIDEO: Firefighters battle Copsale blaze

Photographer Eddie Howland documented the incident as firefighters worked for more than 16 hours to extinguish the fire at the property in Broadwater Lane.

It is believed the building is a large house containing eight flats.

Part of the roof of the building collapsed. No one was hurt in the fire, but a pet hamster was rescued by firefighters.

Six fire engines from Billingshurst, Worthing, Horsham, Henfield and Crawley responded to the fire at 4.33pm.

A water carrier from Burgess Hill and command unit from Haywards Heath also attended, and crews also used an aerial ladder platform to spray water from above.

On arrival, firefighters found the roof of the house well alight.

As well as using two breathing apparatus and four hose reels, fire crews used water from a nearby pond and swimming pool.

The flames and partial collapse caused 70 per cent of the roof space to be damaged, while 50 per cent of the building’s first two floors were damaged by smoke and water.

The blaze was ruled to have started accidentally.

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