Emergency services were called to Hillingdale, Broadfield, at 9.22pm after a blaze broke out in a ground floor kitchen.

Fire investigation officers have said that the fire was started deliberately.

Three pumps from Crawley attended the scene and firefighters used breathing apparatus and a single hose reel to battle the fierce flames.
It is not thought that anyone was injured in the fire.

A spokeswoman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue said: "We were called to a house fire in Broadfield which was quite intense indicated by the smoke issuing from the ground floor. A ground floor kitchen was alight.

"Fire investigation teams and three pumps from Crawley attended and the cause of fire is thought to be arson.

"Fire fighters wearing four breathing apparatus tackled the flames, one hose reel was used and a positive pressure ventilation fan was employed to clear the smoke logged ground floor."

Did you see the fire? Email kirk.ward@sussexnewspapers.co.uk