Firefighters are battling a blaze that broke out overnight at a Waitrose store on a busy East Sussex street in the early hours of this morning.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said crews was called at 3.46am to reports of a warehouse fire at the supermarket in Nevill Road, Hove.
The fire service has confirmed there were no reports of casualties.
The largely residential road was closed in both directions with queuing traffic early this morning as emergency services scrambled to the scene.
Crews from Brighton, Eastbourne, Hove and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene, fighting the flames with three main jets.
The service said at 8am that crews were “damping down hot spots, cutting away and ventilating the property”.
Police and the ambulance service also attended the scene to establish a cordon and standby for potential casualties, with police expected to enact an investigation to determine to cause of the fire.
The site of the blaze on Nevill Road backs onto the greyhound track, with dozens of homes within the immediate vicinity.
The fire broke out at the Waitrose on Nevill Road, Hove
|
GOOGLE STREET VIEW
Speaking at the scene, the Chief Commander of the fire service told local media that no people were involved in the fire.
The flames are believed to have started in a ground floor refrigeration unit, reports the Argus, adding that the fire was brought under control using hoses.
A total of 10 fire engines were on the scene in the early hours at the height of the incident.
An East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “Four fire engines are currently at the scene from East and West Sussex.
“Crews are using positive pressure ventilation fans for smoke clearance. Please continue to avoid the area as roads remain closed at this time.”
Meanwhile, a spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: “Secamb was called by East Sussex Fire and Rescue to reports of a fire on Nevill Road, Hove shortly after 4am this morning.
“However, crews were stood down as, thankfully, no patients were reported.”
Police have confirmed they attended the scene to manage traffic.