HOVE, East Sussex — Firefighters have been locked in a major battle against a fierce inferno that erupted at a Waitrose supermarket on Nevill Road in Hove. The dramatic incident sparked a massive response from emergency services as flames ripped through the commercial building.

The alarm was raised in the early hours of the Tuesday morning, June 16, 2026 when emergency rescue services were called to the location just before 4:00 AM.

A substantial presence was deployed to combat the escalating blaze. A total of ten fire engines from both the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the Nevill Road store to tackle the intense fire.

Local police and ambulance crews were also dispatched to the scene to secure the area, manage road closures, and support the ongoing operation. Thick smoke could be seen billowing from the building as crews established an outer cordon.

Because of the scale of the emergency operation and the heavy presence of first responders, local roads surrounding the supermarket were closed.

Residents and morning commuters were urged to completely avoid the Nevill Road area to prevent gridlock and ensure that emergency vehicles could access the site unobstructed. Those living downwind of the incident were advised to keep their windows and doors shut due to the substantial amount of smoke rising from the scene.

While the immediate focus remains on completely extinguishing the hotspots and ensuring the structural integrity of the supermarket, traffic delays are expected to impact the local community well into the day.

Officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the outbreak. An official fire investigation is expected to begin as soon as the area is deemed fully safe for investigators to enter.