Three escape Bognor house fire

The blaze began in a utility room of the mid-terraced property in Essex Road.

One of the occupants in a nearby bedroom was alerted to the danger when a smoke alarm sounded.

He investigated and found the fire gaining strength in the utility room and the adjoining bathroom.

The two other occupants were cooking downstairs and thought they had set off the alarm accidentally.

They called the fire brigade just before 1.30pm on Sunday (May 3) once they realised the situation.

Two fire engines from Bognor arrived within four minutes. The firefighters were faced with smoke pouring from the windows and the roof of the house.

Crew commander Russell Moore said: "The fire took hold on the first floor and spread through two rooms before the man on the first floor awoke to find his bedroom filling with smoke.

"When he went to investigate, he found the first and second floors extremely smoke logged before running downstairs to alert his housemates.

"He suffered minor burns to his feet from his radiated heat and smoke inhalation."

The extent of the fire led to the initial two fire crews to request help from two others from Chichester.