Dog dies in fire

A BLAZE which gutted the home of a Seaford firefighter and killed his pet dog was arson.

Retained firefighter Michael Rigelsford told the Express how his pager sounded to alert him of the emergency only to be followed by a telephone call telling him it was his house that was ablaze.

Flames tore through his semi-detached bungalow, in Sandgate Close, just before 9am on Friday.

Both Mr Rigelsford and his partner Angela, who was at work, fled back to their home and watched in horror as firefighters wearing breathing gear battled the flames with hoses.

The couple were dealt a double blow when it emerged their chocolate-brown Labrador Kaylum had been killed in the blaze.

Both were near to tears as they surveyed the devastation. Fortunately the couple's sons were not at home when the fire took hold.

Ray Swinden, of Deal Avenue, watched the drama unfold. He said: 'I was doing some gardening out the front and could smell smoke. I thought someone was having a bonfire, then I saw the fire engines come blaring round the corner.

'There were flames coming out of a side window and loads of smoke was coming from the back.

'My concern was for the dog a neighbour said they could hear it barking.

'It was a beautiful dog to think it could not get out that's the tragedy.'

Shirley Thain, who was staying at her daughter's house next door, raised the alarm.

She said: 'I went out to the back garden and saw smoke and shouted to see if anyone was home.'

Soon flames and smoke were pouring out of the bungalow's conservatory.

Mrs Thain ran to the front of the house and knocked on the front door. 'I did not know if the boys were in there, the fire took hold very quickly,' she said.

Fire engines from Seaford, Newhaven and two from Eastbourne attended.

Andrew Porter, Sussex Fire Brigade assistant divisional officer for the Eastbourne area, said firefighters initially found it difficult to establish the source of the fire because the smoke was so thick.

'The fire was at a well developed stage and crews had some difficulty locating the fire on the first floor due to the smoke. There was no indication there was anyone in the fire.

'We were successful in stopping it spreading to the other bungalow.'

The body of the dog was found on the ground floor.

The fire chief said it was the first house blaze he had attended where a fellow fire- fighter was the victim.

'Firefighters are like any other member of the public, this just shows it can happen to them as well,' he said.

Police appealed for witnesses to come forward. A police spokesman said: 'Detectives say the fire was of doubtful origin and have launched an arson probe.'

Readers who saw anyone behaving suspiciously can call police on 0845 6070999.