Fire service admits 18-minute response to major blaze
Eddie MitchellThe first fire crew to attend a large blaze that destroyed four houses and damaged six others took 18 minutes to arrive, the fire service has admitted.
Eight fire engines attended the scene in Ash Keys in Crawley, West Sussex, on Monday, West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (WSFRS) said.
The response time was more than eight minutes longer than the average recorded for critical fires at the end of 2025/26, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
"At the time, firefighters were responding to multiple large fires across the county. All serious incidents are reviewed to ensure we continue to provide an effective service," a WSFRS spokesperson said.
A crew from Crawley were first at the scene.
'Quicker responses'
While initially thought to have been caused by a bonfire, further investigation concluded that the blaze was an "accidental ignition", with the most probable cause attributed to an electrical fault, WSFRS said.
A total of 10 properties were involved in the fire, with the blaze having also spread to the gardens of the properties.
Crews from Crawley, Worthing, Storrington, East Grinstead, Horsham, Turners Hill, Surrey Fire & Rescue Service and East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service attended.
George Carden/BBCTony Morris, who runs the Stop The Cuts campaign, said: "Because of modern materials, fires are now burning hotter and quicker than they did.
"The increased risk of fires spreading in dry conditions means there should be more firefighters and quicker responses."
WSFRS recruited nine whole-time firefighters in January, eight on-call firefighters in March and seven more in May.
However, a 2025/26 performance report showed that adequate crewing at on-call stations stood at 46%, remaining in the red despite improvements.
The fire service continues to urge residents to "take extra care" during the current hot and dry weather.
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