Youth admits '˜deliberately starting blaze'

Crews spent more than three hours battling the fire at a run of four derelict homes in Normans Gardens on Sunday (July 2).

It started in the roof of one of the properties at 2.45pm.

Six fire engines attended along with support appliances including an Aerial Ladder Platform and Breathing Apparatus support unit.

Crews, using breathing apparatus, extinguished the blaze using three hose reels, two water jets and one hydrant.

A fire service spokesman said a quarter of the roof was damaged by the flames. The properties were empty at the time and no-one was injured.

Police were also called and the blaze is being treated as deliberate.

East Grinstead Fire Station said a youngster had come forward and admitted to starting the fire.

A spokesman added: “The fire was deliberately started by a youth who has come forward and will be educated by ourselves and Sussex Police on one of our intervention programs.”

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