Fire crews save Hove man from smoke-filled flat

Firefighters saved a man from his smoke-choked flat in Hove early this morning after food that he had been cooking caught alight.

They forced their way into his third floor flat in Brunswick Place where the middle-aged man was unresponsive in the open plan lounge and kitchen area.

He was helped from the building and treated for having breathed in smoke by a waiting South East Coast Ambulance Service crew.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service sent four appliances from Brighton and Hove to the blaze, including the aerial ladder platform, shortly before 1.45am today (Tuesday 22 November).

Crew Manager Andy Cornford said: “He was unresponsive but conscious and we assisted him to a safe area on the landing as the flat was severely smoke-logged.

“We then assisted him to walk down the stairs to waiting ambulance crews where he was treated for breathing in smoke.

“The cause of the fire was accidental due to cooking being left unattended on the hob.

“Thankfully, the man had a lucky escape as there was a hard-wired fire detection system for the property which activated giving warning to people in the property.

“No one else was injured but the whole property had to be evacuated.

“When we got there some residents were still in their rooms and we would urge people not to ignore any fire alarm and to evacuate immediately for their own safety.

“Some of the residents were even making attempts to try and rescue the man.

“We would urge people not to do this as you can put yourself and others in danger.

“Our advice would be ‘get out, stay out and call the fire service out’.

“We would like to remind people about the dangers of cooking late at night and to always keep a watchful eye on your food while cooking.

“Never leave any cooking unattended because you could not only be putting your lives in danger but others as well.

“This type of call out is surprisingly common and many are still unaware of how dangerous it is to leave cooking unattended.”

A positive pressure ventilation fan was used to clear smoke from a building and the rescued man was taken to hospital.