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| Fireworks depot blaze 'kills two' | Fireworks depot blaze 'kills two' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two firefighters have been killed in a major blaze at a fireworks depot, according to local MP Norman Baker. | Two firefighters have been killed in a major blaze at a fireworks depot, according to local MP Norman Baker. |
| At least 12 people have also been hurt, some seriously, in the fire at the premises near Halland in East Sussex. | At least 12 people have also been hurt, some seriously, in the fire at the premises near Halland in East Sussex. |
| Twelve ambulances, 10 fire engines, and an air ambulance attended Festival Fireworks at The Broyle from 1350 GMT. | Twelve ambulances, 10 fire engines, and an air ambulance attended Festival Fireworks at The Broyle from 1350 GMT. |
| Eye-witnesses have spoken of seeing a huge mushroom cloud of smoke from several miles away and fireworks have been exploding. | Eye-witnesses have spoken of seeing a huge mushroom cloud of smoke from several miles away and fireworks have been exploding. |
| BBC reporter Rob Smith said the fire was still raging and fireworks were going off hours after the blaze started. | BBC reporter Rob Smith said the fire was still raging and fireworks were going off hours after the blaze started. |
| Seven casualties were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, including five from the emergency services. | Seven casualties were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, including five from the emergency services. |
| Two of the seven are said to be in a serious but stable condition. | Two of the seven are said to be in a serious but stable condition. |
| The other patients are being treated for burns and what are described as "limb injuries". | The other patients are being treated for burns and what are described as "limb injuries". |
| A spokesman for Eastbourne District General Hospital said five people injured in the fire had been taken there for treatment. | A spokesman for Eastbourne District General Hospital said five people injured in the fire had been taken there for treatment. |
| He added: "Four have since been discharged, and one other has non-life threatening injuries." | He added: "Four have since been discharged, and one other has non-life threatening injuries." |
| John Winter, whose brother owns the Festival Fireworks depot at Marley Farm, in Shortgate, told BBC News 24 there had been "an almighty bang, and the place shook". | John Winter, whose brother owns the Festival Fireworks depot at Marley Farm, in Shortgate, told BBC News 24 there had been "an almighty bang, and the place shook". |
| He said his brother and family had managed to get out of the building safely, but their house had burnt down. | He said his brother and family had managed to get out of the building safely, but their house had burnt down. |
| 'Colossal smoke' | 'Colossal smoke' |
| Residents in the area have been evacuated to Ringmer Community College. | Residents in the area have been evacuated to Ringmer Community College. |
| It is understood the fireworks store is a concrete complex with steel doors. | It is understood the fireworks store is a concrete complex with steel doors. |
| Jo Hyne, who lives about 500m from the depot, said she heard a loud bang which she had thought at first was thunder. | Jo Hyne, who lives about 500m from the depot, said she heard a loud bang which she had thought at first was thunder. |
| It was like a fireworks display with a fire in the middle of it Richard Mitchell, eyewitness She said there was "a colossal amount of smoke, and rockets going off", before a much larger explosion that shook her house. | It was like a fireworks display with a fire in the middle of it Richard Mitchell, eyewitness She said there was "a colossal amount of smoke, and rockets going off", before a much larger explosion that shook her house. |
| Another eye-witness, Richard Mitchell, watched the drama unfold from outside a pub in Lewes Road, Ringmer. | |
| "It was like a fireworks display with a fire in the middle of it," he said. | "It was like a fireworks display with a fire in the middle of it," he said. |
| Claire Freeman, from Ringmer, had been eating in the Wok Inn next door to the depot when the fire broke out. | Claire Freeman, from Ringmer, had been eating in the Wok Inn next door to the depot when the fire broke out. |
| She said diners were evacuated to the car park at the time of the largest explosion. | She said diners were evacuated to the car park at the time of the largest explosion. |
| She told the BBC news website: "Pieces of wood [were] falling, hissing into puddles around us, at which point we left pretty sharpish." | She told the BBC news website: "Pieces of wood [were] falling, hissing into puddles around us, at which point we left pretty sharpish." |
| Are you in the area? Have you seen anything? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you seen anything? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |
| You can also send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial: 07725 100 100. | You can also send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial: 07725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |