Firefighters tackled the blaze that spread across several gardens and destroyed sheds in Southsea

Firefighters said the blaze started in a shed and spread across multiple gardens in Southsea.

Crews rushed to the scene on Middlesex Road at around 6.10pm yesterday.

Two appliances from Southsea and two from Cosham battled to extinguish the blaze which is believed to have been caused by a glass panel reflecting sunlight onto the shed.

The fire rapidly spread across several gardens on Middlesex Road, Southsea.

A spokesperson from Southsea Fire Station, said: “The flames spread across the outside of several properties.”

“The fire started from a garden shed and spread to trees, shrubbery, fences, and other sheds.”

“There were approximately six houses involved, with their gardens back to back next to each other.”

“It passed from shed to shed, and was a significant fire.”

“Firefighters used six breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet to quell the flames.”

“The fire was not difficult to control, but was unwieldy and had devastated many outside buildings.”

“It was awkward that the fire had spread across the properties, so it was difficult to locate pockets of embers’, he added.”

“One of the sheds had a lean to on it, and the flames had gone onto the roof of that.”

“There was fairly significant damage caused to three sheds that were destroyed.”

“A glass panel used for a small allotment area had started the fire.”

“The sun was coming across sideways onto the gardens, and there was a huge glass panel over a small growing area, which reflected onto one the sheds outside.”

A stop message was received at 7.56pm.