Two houses in East Sussex caught fire early Saturday after being struck by lightning during severe thunderstorms that followed record-breaking high temperatures across the UK this week.
Incident Details
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service reported that lightning ignited fires in Eastbourne and Bexhill. Crews were called at 12:03 a.m. on 27 June 2026 to a roof fire in Selmeston Road, Eastbourne, and at 12:19 a.m. to a house fire on Long Avenue in Bexhill. Both homes were described as 'well alight'. Four fire engines were dispatched to each incident, and crews remained at the scenes overnight. The fire service urged the public to avoid the areas while emergency services worked to bring the fires under control.
No Injuries Reported
In a statement, East Sussex Fire and Rescue said: 'Joint Fire Control have received multiple 999 calls. Crews are working hard, with four fire engines sent to each incident. At this time there are no reports of injuries. Please avoid the areas.'
Weather Context
The lightning strikes came as the Met Office noted that the third consecutive day of June’s record-breaking temperatures was giving way to a westerly influence, bringing thunderstorms. Met Office chief forecaster Andy Page said: 'The UK is seeing a gradual shift in conditions over the weekend, with those to the southeast of England retaining the warmth the longest, where an amber extreme heat warning remains in force through much of Saturday, though peaks are more likely to be in the low 30s Celsius.'
Western parts of Scotland and much of Northern Ireland were expected to see rain on Saturday, with showers spreading south on Sunday. The southeast could remain dry, but there is a risk of thunderstorms before temperatures return to average by Monday.
Record Heat
Friday was confirmed by the Met Office as the UK’s hottest June day on record, with a provisional temperature of 37.3°C recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk, surpassing the 36.7°C recorded in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday.
