Date: 4th July, 2019
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service tackled a significant fire in Oak Avenue, Christchurch last night (3 July), with approx. 70 firefighters in attendance.
A 999 call was received at 7.10pm to say a two-storey house was well alight, and the fire also spread to two adjacent properties in Chestnut Avenue, a garage and a camper van.
Crews were mobilised from DWFRS and Hampshire – Christchurch (two), Springbourne, Redhill Park, Westbourne, Ferndown, New Milton (two), Poole (three), Ringwood, Wimborne (two) and Burley. Officer support was also sent from Devon & Somerset FRS.
Twenty two breathing apparatus wearers, multiple jets and the aerial ladder platform from Westbourne were used to fight the fire, with water being drawn from the nearby river at Iford Bridge. A water carrier from Christchurch and a support appliance from Hamworthy were also in attendance.
As at 8.15pm, it had been confirmed that all occupants of the affected properties had been accounted for. British Red Cross emergency response volunteers were on scene to support those displaced. Also supporting the incident were Dorset Police, BCP Council, South Western Ambulance Service and Public Health England.
As at 10.45pm, the fire was mostly extinguished, with just hot spots to deal with, and the attendance was reduced to three crews, drawn from Cranborne, Shaftesbury and Swanage. A crew from Christchurch then reattended shortly after 5am and a reinspection is scheduled for 8am.
Initial fire investigations have started but this will continue today (4 July). At this stage, there is no information abut a potential cause, but there are no suspicious circumstances.