EMERGENCY SERVICES RESPOND TO EASTBOURNE PIER BLAZE A fire broke out on a prominent East Sussex seaside pier on Sunday morning, prompting a full evacuation and a large-scale emergency response.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue mobilised at 10:24am following reports of the incident at the seafront landmark.

Initial resources included six fire appliances, an aerial ladder unit, and supporting personnel.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus deployed foam to extinguish the flames and prevent them from spreading further along the structure.

Images from the location showed thick smoke emerging from a fish and chip outlet positioned near the front of the pier.

Utility supplies were isolated by emergency crews, while officers from Sussex Police attended to provide assistance.

Local residents were instructed to keep doors and windows shut while responders managed the situation.

The incident served as a stark reminder of the extensive fire that destroyed the pier in July 2014.

The pier had come under new ownership in 2015, having been purchased by Sheikh Abid Gulzar following that earlier blaze.

By 11:19am, the fire service confirmed that satisfactory progress had been achieved and the flames had been completely extinguished.

Crews subsequently worked to eliminate residual hot spots and conducted cutting operations to ensure the fire was fully suppressed.

Although the fire had been brought under control, several fire engines, an aerial ladder platform and a support pump continued operations at the location.

Surrounding roads were closed to enable firefighters to carry out their duties safely.

A subsequent update confirmed that a stop message had been issued and investigators had determined the cause to be accidental.

The number of fire appliances at the scene decreased to four by midday, with further reduction expected as activities drew to a close.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue has not yet provided information regarding the fire’s origin or the extent of any damage sustained by the pier.