On 24 June 2026 at around 17:00, a gas cylinder exploded at a caravan site on Downash Road in Hailsham, East Sussex. Emergency services attributed the cause to intense heat amid an extended red health warning in southern England. The same day, the UK recorded a new June maximum temperature record of 36.1 °C in Gosport, Hampshire.
Firefighters found no open flames but reported damage to an outdoor area of approximately 5 sq m. No injuries occurred.
Following the incident, authorities issued advice for handling LPG cylinders in hot weather: store in shade, upright, in a ventilated area, away from heat sources and escape routes, and never leave inside closed vehicles.