Fire crews battled blazes in Kent and Sussex as thunderstorms battered the UK after record-breaking high temperatures across the country this week
02:24, 27 Jun 2026Updated 11:33, 27 Jun 2026
Fire crews working in Crawley after a lightning strikes sparked a fire(Image: eddie mitchell)
Houses have been set alight after being struck by lightning in the early hours of the morning.
Fire crews rushed to homes in both Sussex and Kent after they were struck during intense thunderstorms.
In Crawley, firefighters were dealing with a fire in Thatcher Close. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said it was caused by a lightning strike.
Four fire engines were also sent to houses in Eastbourne and Bexhill, which were struck by lightning within minutes of each other shortly after midnight.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue said: “Lightning is reported to have started fires in Eastbourne and in Bexhill. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was called at 12.03am on 27 June 2026 to a roof alight on a house in Selmeston Road, Eastbourne. At 12.19am, we were called to Long Avenue in Bexhill following reports a house was alight after being struck by lightning.
More thunderstorms are possible tomorrow(Image: eddie mitchell)
“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.”
The Met Office said the third consecutive day of June’s record-breaking temperatures came yesterday as parts of the UK were transitioning to more of a westerly influence, bringing the risk of 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.”
Temperatures should cool down from tomorrow(Image: eddie mitchell)
Western parts of Scotland and much of Northern Ireland will see rain for a time on Saturday, with showers likely spreading further south in places on Sunday, though these will be fairly light in nature.
Those to the south east could remain dry through the weekend, although there is a risk of thunderstorms here before temperatures return more towards average later on Sunday and into Monday.
Friday was confirmed by the Met Office as the UK’s hottest June day on record, with a provisional temperature of 37.3C recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk, surpassing the high of 36.7C recorded in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday.