Five guests rescued in hotel fire drama

Swift action by assistant manager Simon Brown at the White Swan in Chichester Road, Arundel and by fire and rescue service, ensured all 19 guests escaped uninjured from the incident where arson is suspected.

Mr Brown had only just locked up at midnight and set the alarms when he heard someone shouting "There's a fire."

He checked the kitchens and then discovered flames and smoke coming from tghe other side of the building, from the window of a first floor corridor, where five residents were trapped in their rooms.

Until the first fire crews arrived on the scene from Arundel and Littlehampton, these residents were given survival advice on the telephone by the fire service. Meanwhile Mr Brown evacuated the remainder of the guests.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette March 7