A HUGE fire broke out of a beach hut near the West Cliff lift and ripped up the cliff face, charring 100 sqm of heath.
Picture by Ernie Einemann
The blaze broke out shortly before 4pm yesterday, and eight fire crews attended with the stop message coming at 5.27pm.
- As it happened: Bournemouth beach fire
Picture by @dorsetfudge
A spokesperson for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said a camping stove was knocked over accidentally in a beach hut.
Picture by Paul Blakeley
At the time the fire broke out, a spokesperson for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is currently dealing with a fire on West Undercliff in Bournemouth, affecting three beach huts and approx. 100 sqm of heath on the cliff face.
Picture by @TheAdShaw
"We were called to the scene at 3.51pm and have fire crews in attendance from Redhill Park, Springbourne, Westbourne and Christchurch, together with the aerial appliance from Westbourne. Additional crews are en route.
"The fire is causing significant smoke across the promenade and across West Hill Road. People are asked to stay away from the area, and to keep doors and windows closed as a precaution."
Dorset Police also attended and both sides of the promenade, as well as the zig zag path above were cordoned off.
Picture by @katyptv
A spokesperson for the police said: “We were called at 3.53pm on Monday July 20 to reports of a beach hut near to the West Cliff lift on Bournemouth’s West Cliff. The fire has spread to nearby beach huts and is moving up the cliff.”
Picture by Debbie Granville
Members of the public were advised to avoid the area and officers remained on the scene to assist with closures.
Despite the stop message coming at 5.27pm, fire crews stayed on the cliff into the evening to damp down the affected area.
Picture by Georgie Foy
Firefighters used the aerial platform to get over the blaze to dampen down.
Thousands of people were on the beach at the time, however nobody was injured.
Beach goers described the moment the beach hut burst into flames as “spectacular”.
Picture by @dorsetfudge
Edward Ford, from Bournemouth, told the Daily Echo: "You must have been able to see the smoke for miles.
"We were in a section of beach a lot closer, but police moved everyone away. It looked pretty spectacular at one point, the flames were about 20ft high."
Picture by Tom Burn
Witnesses said the smoke could be seen from Hengistbury Head as well as on the A338 Spur Road.
Meanwhile, Linda Roberts was with her family on the beach when the fire broke out.
She said: "We saw the flames and smoke just tear up the cliffside. People were saying it started in one of the huts, but I couldn't say for sure."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel