West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service sent six fire engines, a water carrier and an aerial ladder platform to a fire in Lancing at Lancing Business Park in Chartwell Road. The blaze involved two industrial buildings, and residents and motorists were told to stay away while crews dealt with it.
The first of around 50 calls came in at 4.24pm. The service said crews were working hard to bring the fire under control, and nearby residents were asked to keep their doors and windows closed because of the smoke.
Paul Williams and black smoke
Paul Williams, a V2 Radio reporter in the area, said he saw a large amount of black smoke rising from the direction of Lancing Business Park. That matched the account from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, which said the incident was large enough to bring multiple appliances to Chartwell Road.
The emergency response was sizeable, but there had been no official confirmation of any injuries. The service also had not said what caused the fire, and it had not said how badly the two industrial buildings were damaged.
Chartwell Road response
The practical advice for people nearby was immediate: avoid the area, and close doors and windows if smoke drifted toward homes. For motorists, the instruction was to stay away from the scene while crews kept working through the incident.
What happens next depends on the fire service getting the blaze under control and then checking the two industrial buildings for damage. Until that happens, the unanswered question is simple: what caused the fire at Lancing Business Park?
