04/06/2026
Many of you may already be aware that there was a serious fire at our Littlehampton charity shop this morning.
Our first concern has been for the safety of our staff and the public. I am relieved to confirm that no one was injured.
Our Littlehampton Shop Manager was in the shop at around 8.30am when she noticed smoke coming from the rear of the shop. She acted quickly and safely, leaving the premises and raising the alarm. The fire brigade believe it may have been an electrical fault but are yet to confirm the exact cause.
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service arrived promptly and brought the fire under control. While we are incredibly grateful that the fire was contained and did not spread further, the contents of the shop have suffered extensive smoke damage and the premises will require significant refurbishment before we can reopen.
As a result, our Littlehampton shop will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the firefighters who attended so quickly and worked tirelessly to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties and the flats above.
I would also like to thank our supporters and the local community for the many kind messages of concern and support we have received today. Your support means a great deal to us. We look forward to welcoming you back to our Littlehampton shop as soon as we are able to reopen.
Ian Hughes
General Manager
The Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre
