Ten homes are damaged 'after barbecue fire' in Sussex

Published: 01:19, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 01:19, 4 August 2026 Ten homes have been damaged in an alleged barbecue fire in Sussex.  Emergency services rushed to the blaze in Ash Keys, Crawley, at around 2.40pm on Monday. Eight fire engines arrived at the scene after receiving calls, West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said. Four properties ended up being seriously damaged in the blaze, it added.  'Crews are working hard to bring the fire under control and to extinguish it,' the fire service said. 'We would like to use this opportunity to remind people that the Fire Severity Index, which measures how severe a fire would be if one were to break out, remains very high in West Sussex due to the prolonged warm, dry weather. 'We are encouraging people to avoid using disposable barbecues and having bonfires in outdoor spaces, pick up litter if you see it, extinguish smoking materials properly, and to report any signs of fire immediately by calling 999.' Pictures from the scene showed large clouds of smoke billowing into the air as firefighters struggled to battle the blaze. Ten homes have been damaged in an alleged barbecue fire in Sussex Pictures from the scene showed large clouds of smoke billowing into the air as firefighters struggled to battle the blaze  A large cherry picker was erected from a fire engine parked on a nearby street. Houses could be seen blackened in the aftermath of the blaze with smoke still emerging from their roofs hours after it first broke out.  By the end of the day, the facades of several homes had peeled off with their cladding exposed. It was confirmed on Monday that last month was the driest July ever recorded in England and Wales. Just 6.5mm of rain fell across the entire month - just 10 per cent of its long-term average for the month and less than half the previous record of 13.4mm, set in 1911. Wales had 9.3mm of rainfall in July – just 9 per cent of its long-term average for the month. With just 1.9mm of rainfall, Southern England has been particularly dry, experiencing its driest month ever recorded. The country faces another week under the threat of drought as much of the country remained starved of rainfall.  All of Wales and much of south-western, central and eastern England were experiencing drought at the end of last week while wildfires broke out across the country. One burned near Britain's biggest nuclear power station - Sizewell B - and the construction site for the new Sizewell C last week. Some 116 properties were affected by power cuts as fire crews were sent from London and helicopter crews dropped water on the blaze. The UK remained on course for the highest number of deaths caused by heatwaves in a year since records began. Emergency services rushed to the blaze in Ash Keys, Crawley, at around 2.40pm on Monday  Millions of Britons are also under hosepipe bans as water companies look to protect reserves. And the heatwave is showing no signs of letting up, with amber alerts coming into effect from 9am Monday morning and set to last until the same time on Wednesday, covering London, the South East, the East of England and the East Midlands. Issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the alerts warn of significant impacts to health and social care services because of high temperatures. There may also be a rise in deaths, particularly amongst vulnerable people, while the heat continues. Less severe yellow heat alerts have also been issued for the same period for the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands and the South West. These alerts warn minor impacts are likely across health and social care services. The North East is the only English region without a UKHSA heat health alert in place today.