'Losing everything in house fire was devastating'

A family have told of their devastation after losing nearly all their belongings in a huge fire over the weekend.

Simba Chitsatso and his family had to flee from their flat in Horsham, West Sussex, after a huge fire started in the Gardner and Scardifield building below them on Saturday.

People have been donating clothes and school uniforms for the family - and a fundraiser set up by the community has already raised more than £18,500.

The blaze in Queen Street was attended by 10 fire engines, with 18 residents being evacuated from the area, the fire service said.

Mr Chitsatso said they only had time to grab their passports before running out of the building without their shoes.

The 42-year-old said they had friends over for dinner and were completely unaware of the fire which started at about 22.00 GMT.

"Someone came and was banging on the door and said 'you need to get out of the house now, it's on fire'. I screamed to everybody to get out," he told BBC Radio Sussex.

"It was scary. My children were shaking and crying, I am just thankful that we are all alive.

"I felt the heat when I opened the bedroom door, it made me scared. I thought it could explode at any time. Being greeted with that heat was shocking," he said.

"Losing it all in one go, it was devastating. My second thoughts was of going back, maybe it's time for us to go home [to Zimbabwe]."

Mr Chitsatso says his employer has allowed them to stay in a guest house at nearby Mannings Heath Golf Club.

He said people have donated clothes, school uniforms for his three children, toiletries and other essentials.

Mr Chitsatso added: "The community we are living in here in Horsham, I have never seen anything like that in my entire life.

"People who care, I didn't know people cared to this level. We left with nothing. I'm just grateful, I think I would just hug everyone.

"They are all strangers to me, for them to help someone they've never met just because someone has fallen in this tragic situation is amazing. It's beyond surprise, it's shock.

"The amount of generosity shocked me," he said.

Mr Chitsatso added: "It was devastating the first hour, but when I saw the response of the community of Horsham.

"It's amazing."

A spokesperson for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: "Upon arrival crews were confronted with a well-developed fire at the rear of a large commercial premises.

"Firefighters worked hard to extinguish the significant fire and prevent it from spreading to adjacent buildings. Re-inspections are regularly being carried out to ensure there are no hotspots.

The fire service also confirmed there were no injuries and the cause was thought to be accidental.

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