Halogen light warning after fire

Householders are being urged to check that halogen lights in ceilings are fitted safely following a fire in a warehouse unit in West Sussex.

Firefighters were called to the site at Bullrushes Farm, in Dunnings Mill End, East Grinstead, on Monday.

They believe heat from a halogen light, which had been placed too close to thick loft insulation, caused the fire.

Roger Wood, of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said lights should be fitted with fire resistant "hoods".

He said failing that, there should be a sufficient gap between the lights and the roof insulation or roof timbers.

"Halogen down lighters do get extremely hot... if a fire does start to smoulder it is likely to be in an area that doesn't have smoke detectors, like roof spaces or ceiling voids.

"This means the fire could develop without you knowing until it is too late," Mr Wood warned.