Crews Contain Waitrose Fire in Hove After 10 Engines Respond

Firefighters battled a waitrose fire overnight at a Waitrose store on Nevill Road in Hove after crews were called at 3.46am to reports of a warehouse fire. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said there were no reports of casualties.

Ten fire engines were at the scene at the height of the incident, with crews from Brighton, Eastbourne, Hove and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service joining the response. By 8am, firefighters were damping down hot spots, cutting away and ventilating the property.

Nevill Road Response

The road was closed in both directions early in the morning as crews worked on the blaze in a largely residential area. The site backs onto the greyhound track and has dozens of homes in the immediate vicinity.

An East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Four fire engines are currently at the scene from East and West Sussex." The spokesman also said: "Crews are using positive pressure ventilation fans for smoke clearance. Please continue to avoid the area as roads remain closed at this time."

South East Coast Ambulance Service

Police and the ambulance service attended to establish a cordon and stand by for potential casualties. A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Secamb was called by East Sussex Fire and Rescue to reports of a fire on Nevill Road, Hove shortly after 4am this morning."

He added: "However, crews were stood down as, thankfully, no patients were reported." The fire is believed to have started in a ground floor refrigeration unit and was brought under control using hoses.

Police Investigation

The Chief Commander of the fire service said that no people were involved in the fire. Police were expected to investigate the cause of the fire after crews finished making the site safe.