A 22-YEAR-OLD man was forced to smash his way out of his burning flat after a fire broke out in Bournemouth.

The fire service were called to the flat, above One Stop in Jewell Road, Townsend, at around 1am on Saturday, July 13.

Katherine Thorburn said her brother, Jacob Jessopp, has autism and lives with his father in the flat but was alone at the time of the incident.

(Image: Newsquest)

“He was sleeping and heard the fire alarm go off so got up to get dressed and had to break the window in the bedroom,” said Katherine.

She added: “It has been drummed into him from a young age that, that is what he needs to do and luckily he remembered that.”

After breaking the window, Jacob climbed onto the flat roof and waited for emergency services to arrive.

Jacob was later taken to hospital for treatment to cuts over his arms caused by the window, and to test for smoke inhalation.

Although the family have not been able to see the extent of the damage to the flat, it is believed that the majority of their belongings will have been destroyed.

“I had to get him [Jacob] some clothes today because he only had what was on his back,” said Katherine.

“He was hoping to start college in September, doing photography, but his camera was in there [the flat].”

Jacob and his dad will be staying in a Travelodge for the next week but their future accommodation is uncertain.

(Image: Newsquest)

Katherine added: “He does seem calm at the moment but I’m waiting for it to hit him.

“He is worried because they have two cats, one has been seen on the roof and the fire service are helping to get it down but they cannot find the other one.”

At the height of the fire, around 25 firefighters were at the scene with six fire engines.

Crews attended from Springbourne, Redhill, Christchurch, Poole, Hamworthy and Westbourne) along with the Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) from Westbourne.

Fire crews returned the following morning for a reinspection alongside Dorset Police’s CSI (Crime Scene Investigators) team.

The cause of the fire is not yet known but police have been contacted for further details.