Elderly man dies following Horsham house fire
Police were called out on Monday evening (January 11th)
Last updated 12th Jan 2021
Police have confirmed that an elderly man has died following a house fire in Horsham town centre on Monday (January 11th).
Officers were on patrol when they first spotted flames coming from a building in Bishopric at just before 7.30pm.
Five engines were called to the scene, two each from Horsham and Crawley and one from Billingshurst.
Cordons were set up outside the building while crews fought the flames.
Sussex Police said the body of a man in his 90s was found inside the building.
The incident is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious at this stage, and the coroner’s office has been informed.
Another elderly man found at the address was treated at hospital for smoke inhalation and some burn injuries to his hand. He has since been discharged.
A spokesperson for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said:
“Joint Fire Control received several calls to a fire in a domestic property on Bishopric in Horsham at 7.25pm on Monday (11 January).
“Two fire engines from Horsham, two from Crawley and one from Billingshurst were mobilised to the scene, and upon arrival were confronted with a well-developed fire on the first floor of the property.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were quickly deployed to extinguish the fire, with crews using a total of four high pressure hose reels, a safety jet and covering jet.
“Firefighters remained on scene alongside officers from Sussex Police for some time into the evening undertaking preliminary investigations.
“Further investigation work is taking place this morning between WSFRS’s Specialist Fire Investigators and Sussex Police Crime Scene Investigators.”