Residents speak about Mimi's restaurant fire in Bournemouth

Charminster Road residents Graham and Jayne Kemish were at home in their flat when a fire broke out on the ground floor of the nearby Mimi’s African Restaurant on Saturday.

Fire crews and police closed the busy street between Malmesbury Park Road and Shelbourne Road, causing traffic and public transport diversions.

• Read more: Large fire breaks out in kitchen of Bournemouth restaurant

Less than 24 hours after the incident, and with the smell of smoke still lingering, Graham and Jayne spoke to the Echo about their experience. Graham said: “We were just at home enjoying a normal day when I said to my wife that I smelt smoke. She said it was probably just the takeaway next door but I knew something was burning.

Fire at Mimi's African Restaurant in Charminster Road, Bournemouth

“We both ran down here and with that everyone was panicking and I lost sight of Jayne as everyone else was getting in our way, then I faintly heard her say ‘where’s our neighbour?’”

Jayne said: “I saw everyone out here but couldn’t see our neighbour anywhere, I knew he wasn’t at work so I ran back upstairs to see if he was in. He was and I said to him we have to get out because there’s a fire downstairs.”

By this time, Graham says the smoke was “getting darker and thicker” and he was “screaming” his wife’s name.

Jayne and her neighbour made it downstairs and began to weave their way through the smoke outside their building and down an alleyway next to Mimi’s Restaurant.

Mimi's African Restaurant and, inset, next door alleyway

The neighbour went ahead and Jayne used the torch on her phone to try and find her way into the alleyway. However, after becoming overcome with smoke, Jayne passed out.

Graham said: “I was shouting for her and wasn’t hearing anything so decided I had to go in to try and find her. Then a firefighter came through and told me I needed to evacuate, I said I can’t because my wife is in there, but they said I had to go. I was like a lost boy.”

Luckily, firefighters quickly found Jayne on the ground as the torch on her phone was still shining. She was taken over the road where she received oxygen and then taken to hospital due to smoke inhalation.

Released from hospital at 5am on Sunday morning, Jayne said: “I’m okay, I’m a bit uneasy on my feet and coughing a lot, but I’m okay. Most of yesterday (Saturday) is like a blur to me.”

Charminster Road residents Graham and Jayne Kemish

Graham added: “I’m just so happy she’s still here. She’s a true hero, that’s exactly what she is. It’s mad how much we take life for granted, we could be gone at the click of a finger.”

• As it happened: Fire in Charminster Road in Bournemouth

In a statement released on their website, Mimi’s said: “Most damages were at the kitchen, bar area and some parts of the lounge.

“We want to specially give thanks to the fire service for their help in containing the spread of the fire and the people around for their moral support.

“Mimi’s has taken a massive hit today. We are absolutely devastated. To all our customers, we want to say thank you for all your support over the years.

“Mimi’s will be back again for sure.”