Family's fire drama

Vanessa Deacy's home in St James Close was badly damaged by smoke and flames but things could have been far worse had she not been alerted to the danger.

Vanessa went upstairs to find the top floor ablaze after hearing 'beeping' from the alarm.

She quickly left the house with her four pet chocolate labradors and called the emergency services on her mobile phone.

Her family, including husband Cavan and daughter Jade, who were not in at the time, are now looking for alternative accommodation.

District council officers have already set about re-homing pregnant Jade and her boyfriend Joe.

It may be anything up to six months before the family can move back in due to the extent of the damage from last Friday's fire.

The cause is still unknown, but the family say there is a suspicion an incense candle fell over and caught a curtain.

Vanessa said: "I assumed that the alarm was faulty and wondered what to do about it. I decided however to go and have a look round upstairs.

"It was just possible that the alarm wasn't faulty, I thought that I had better check. I went up the stairs and was confronted by everyone's worst nightmare - the house was on fire.

"I rushed downstairs, grabbed my mobile and ushered the dogs outside while calling the emergency services.

"It seemed like ages, but I had scarcely got out onto the road, where neighbours were eager to hold onto the dogs, when we heard the sirens of the first fire engine.

"I think that it was only then that I realised what was happening; my house had flames pouring out of an upstairs window and I began to feel dreadful.

"Perhaps I should have been overwhelmed by what was going on. There were uniformed firemen pumping water into the blazing room and fighting the fire in my home, there were kind neighbours making sure that the dogs were safe and that I was all right, a Red Cross team were there with their support vehicle.

"I was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the professionalism of the fire brigade and others and the kindness and generosity of our neighbours.

"Our house is now in a dreadful state but it would have been a complete wreck, a burnt out shell, if we hadn't had a tested smoke alarm and an emergency service that was not too far away. I hate to think what would have happened if the firefighters had been based in Hastings or Eastbourne."

Cavan said: "We are sleeping on a mattress in the living room at the moment but we can't stay.

"We have got to be out and it could be for anywhere up to three to six months in a worst case scenario. The main thing is everybody is all right though.

"The neighbours were wonderful bringing round cups of tea and offering help. We want to say thank you to them and the fire brigade who were also wonderful."