Midhurst fire: Historic hotel 'housing refugees' engulfed by blaze

A 400-year-old edifice successful West Sussex that was reportedly lodging Ukrainian refugees has been engulfed by a large blaze.

The occurrence is believed to person started successful a spot successful North Street, Midhurst, connected Thursday greeting earlier spreading to the extortion of the Angel Inn.

More than 30 radical person been evacuated from the buildings, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS) said.

Four radical were treated astatine the country but did not necessitate infirmary treatment.

Firefighters, constabulary and paramedics stay astatine the scene.

The origin of the occurrence is not yet known and roadworthy closures are successful place.

Local nonmigratory Hilton Holloway, who witnessed the fire, said astir 30 people, including immoderate children, were evacuated from the hotel.

"There were a fig of Ukrainian refugees successful the hotel, which had astir 15 rooms," helium said.

"I spoke to 1 young pistillate who seemed comparatively calm."

WSFRS said crews were called to North Street astatine 01:08 GMT connected Thursday.

A full of 15 occurrence engines and 2 aerial ladder platforms were sent to the scene.

A WSFRS spokesperson said firefighters were met with a "significant occurrence successful the extortion space" astatine the hotel, which dispersed to neighbouring properties.

A alleviation centre has been acceptable up successful Midhurst for those that person been displaced.

WSFRS said North Street is expected to beryllium closed for immoderate time.

Speaking astatine the scene, WSFRS country manager Richard Abbot said: "We are advising residents to support their windows and doors closed arsenic determination is ample amounts of fume successful the area.

"It's excessively aboriginal successful the incidental to cognize the origin of the fire, nevertheless we volition beryllium investigating the occurrence arsenic soon arsenic it is harmless to bash so."