Firefighters Tackle Blaze at Tesco in Hove

Emergency services were called to Tesco in Church Road, Hove, in the early hours of this morning (Thursday, July 24) after a fire broke out near the entrance of the store. The front of the supermarket remains taped off, although the store is still open to the public. Sussex Police have confirmed the incident is […]

Emergency services were called to Tesco in Church Road, Hove, in the early hours of this morning (Thursday, July 24) after a fire broke out near the entrance of the store.

The front of the supermarket remains taped off, although the store is still open to the public.

Sussex Police have confirmed the incident is being treated as deliberate, and an investigation has been launched.

A spokesperson for the force said:

“Emergency services responded to a fire at the Tesco store in Church Road, Hove, at about 4.20am on Thursday, July 24.
Witnesses or anyone with information, including relevant CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage from the area at the time, is asked to come forward.
Information can be reported online or by calling 101, quoting serial 197 of 24/07.”

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called to the scene at 4.41am.

A spokeswoman said:

“Three fire appliances from Hove and Preston Circus attended.
Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel jet to extinguish the fire.
Crews left the scene at 6.11am. Sussex Police were also in attendance.”

An eyewitness, who took to social media, suggested the fire started in a stack of barbecue coals outside the entrance.

“Barbecue coals stacked at main entrance were set on fire from what I could see. Did seem a bit of a fire hazard stacking at the main fire escape, especially under glass