Family rescued from Littlehampton fire '“ picture

Fire crews were called to a second-floor flat, on the corner of Surrey Street and Pier Road, at 11.47pm, after the family reported being trapped by fire and thick black smoke in the block's staircase, and that smoke was getting into their home.

A ladder was pitched to the window, and the children, one a baby and the other a toddler, were passed out to waiting firefighters, before two women and one man climbed out.

Four more residents of the block were evacuated while the fire, which had broken out in the hallway of the flats, was fought.

The family were given precautionary checks by paradmedics, before being taken to hospital by abumulance.

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue said: "A fire investigation officer has asked for Hattie, a specially trained fire investigation dog who can sniff out the use of any accelerants that may have been used to start the fire.

"At this stage of the investigation a cause has not been confirmed, although arson has not been ruled out."

-----------------------------

Click here to return to Gazette news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Gazette's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Gazette: [email protected]