Four trapped in Littlehampton flat fire
The blaze sparked at about 4.04am this morning (Thursday, April 11) when a wheelchair was caught fire in the ground floor hallway of a block of flats in South Terrace.
Two fire crews from Littlehampton and one from East Preston rushed to the scene to discover the residents trapped inside.
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Hide AdFire survival guidance had to be relayed by telephone as the occupants were unable to escape their homes.
Two people, a 44-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman needed oxygen therapy following the fire, which was extinguished by 4.54am.
The incident was initially treated as a suspected arson attack.
However, following an investigation by fire officials and police, a spokeswoman from West Sussex Fire and Rescue confirmed that the blaze was accidental, citing carelessly disposed, lit cigarettes as the cause.