Release date: 21 May 2026
Firefighters are urging residents to take extra care after crews attended six garden fires across West Sussex in less than a fortnight.
On 23 April, six fire engines and an aerial ladder platform were called to a fire in the open on Church Road, Broadbridge Heath. Crews were faced with a significant blaze affecting two properties. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used high-pressure hose reels to bring the fire under control. Fortunately, there were no casualties, and the fire is believed to have started accidentally.
The following day (24 April), firefighters were called to a garden fire at a mid-terrace property on Kidborough Road, Crawley. Five fire engines and an aerial ladder platform attended the incident, where the fire had spread from the rear of the building towards the roof. Crews used two hose reel jets and one main jet to extinguish the fire. There were no reported injuries, and the cause is also believed to be accidental.
Crews attended two further incidents on 30 April in Greencourt Drive, North Bersted, and Woodlands Way, Southwater. Two fire engines responded to a garden fire affecting the rear of a property in North Bersted, while four fire engines attended a garage fire in Southwater.
In Crawley, firefighters were called to two more incidents on 2 and 3 May. On 2 May, two fire engines attended a flat in Crosswater Road following reports of a balcony fire, which was found to be out on arrival.
On 3 May, four fire engines were called to a significant fire in Pollards, Gossops Green, where eight gardens were affected. Crews found two sheds well alight and used high-pressure hose reels to extinguish the fire.
Crawley Fire Station Manager James McGrath said: “With more people spending time in their gardens this bank holiday weekend, we want to remind everyone of some simple steps they can take to help prevent fires and keep themselves and their neighbours safe.
“Never leave barbecues unattended and always keep them well away from anything that could catch fire, including fences, sheds, dry grass, and garden furniture.
“Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the correct method of ignition to light your barbecue. If you are using a gas barbecue, ensure the cylinder is turned off before changing it and always do this outdoors.
“We would strongly discourage people from having garden bonfires, particularly in built-up residential areas, as they can spread quickly, affect neighbouring properties and cause significant nuisance and distress to nearby residents. Garden waste can be disposed of safely at your local recycling centre, using your district or borough council’s garden recycling collection service, or composted at home.
“Smoking materials should always be fully extinguished and disposed of safely. Residents with balconies should take extra care to ensure cigarettes are properly put out and never discarded from height, as they can easily cause fires in neighbouring balconies, gardens or external areas below.
“Large lithium-ion batteries used in garden power tools, electric bikes and e-scooters can also present a significant fire risk. Avoid charging batteries overnight or when unattended, use the correct charger for the device, and unplug chargers once batteries are fully charged.
“Flammable materials stored in sheds and outbuildings should be kept securely and well away from potential sources of ignition.”
People can find more summer safety advice on our website.
