Fire leads to New Year evacuation

Alan Phillips, whose son runs one of the saved units, took this photo

A family in West Sussex saw in 2008 in dramatic fashion when they had to be evacuated from their farmhouse after a fire broke out in nearby barns.

Peter Renwick, his wife and their two sons "gatecrashed" their neighbours' New Year's Eve party when fire crews told them to leave Crows Hall Farm.

A blaze had taken hold of barns rented out for business use, where asbestos and gas canisters were both present.

Three out of five premises were completely destroyed.

Mr Renwick said the affected barns had been used by three companies storing furniture, theatrical props and marquees.

He said his eight-year-old son, who was in bed, spotted the fire in the block of barns just after 2330 GMT on New Year's Eve.

We were having a quiet evening Peter Renwick

"It's a wooden-framed building, so the fire really took hold and it's destroyed three out of five barns in that block."

Mr Renwick said he and his family had to leave their home until the early hours of New Year's Day.

"We were having a quiet evening, but then we had to gatecrash our neighbours' New Year's Eve party, with the dog as well."

Up to 60 firefighters attended the blaze, on the B2141 Chilgrove Road north of Chichester.

It was not extinguished until about 0700 GMT on New Year's Day, and crews were expected to remain at the scene into the evening for damping down.

'Extremely grateful'

The Environment Agency also had to be called out to make sure Chilgrove Road was cleaned of any asbestos from the roof of the barns which may have contaminated its surface.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said much of the building was now unsafe.

But Mr Renwick said he hoped it would be business as normal this week for the other two tenants in the affected block.

Alan Phillips said his son Martin was relieved to find his Kensington Kitchens operation had survived the inferno.

He said firefighters broke a window "to gain access, desperately trying to move equipment and materials out of the unit".

"Martin is extremely grateful and full of praise for the teams involved... and he can see the possibility of continuing trading," Mr Phillips added.