A man has been arrested for arson after a major blaze at one of Brighton’s most exclusive addresses which has left another young man in hospital with burns.
Four engines were the fire at the back of eight-bedroom Roedean House in Roedean Crescent after the fire service received “numerous calls” starting at 11.24am.
ESFRS999: 11:24 4 pumps and control unit attending house fire in Roedean Crescent, Roedean. Numerous 999 calls received. More to follow.
— East Sussex FRS (@EastSussexFRS) March 17, 2016
A police spokesman said: “Shortly after 11.30am on Thursday (17 March) police were contacted by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and told of a serious house fire in Roedean Crescent, Roedean, near Brighton.
“Severe damage had been caused to the property, with a garage block almost completely destroyed.
“A man at the scene had sustained burns and was suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation. He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, for treatment.
“At the request of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service police were asked to treat the fire as suspicious and a joint investigation is now under way.
“A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent.”
A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue said: “Crews were called out to a fire at a residential property in Roedean Crescent, Roedean, Brighton at 11.24 on 17 March 2016.
“One fire engine from Roedean was dispatched along with two from Preston Circus, one from Hove and the Incident Control Unit from Lewes.
“The property comprises of three floors, approx 40m x 20m. The fire is in the rear of the property. Crews are using six breathing apparatus, two main jets and a hydrant is also in use.
She later added: “At 12.53, a message was received from crews confirming the fire was under control. Crews used twelve breathing apparatus.
“One casualty was transferred into the care of the Ambulance Service.
“A fire investigation is now underway to determine the cause of the fire.”
A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: “We responded with one ambulance crew to reports a man aged approximately in his 20s was suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.
“He was assessed and treated before being taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital.”
A Twitter user called Lord Summers posted this picture showing an aerial view of the blaze taken with a drone camera:
Billowing smoke from the fire can clearly be seen from the A259.
Roedean House is owned by property developer Ghanim Hamza and Anne Hamza, who bought it in 2003 for £3.1million.
