Holidaymaker ran towards burning cottage to evacuate people as fire overwhelmed home

Damian Crawford had been travelling along the A353 near Poxwell on his way to Weymouth for an evening meal when he came across plumes of thick black smoke pouring across the road.

The tourist, on holiday from Kent, stopped his car and ran towards the burning cottage on Thursday evening.

The A353 was shut for several hours as around 70 firefighters from across Dorset extinguished the blaze. The elderly occupant of the cottage is being treated in hospital after suffering smoke inhalation.

Mr Crawford, 47, said: "We quickly pulled over the car and I ran to the house just as the owner, an elderly man, ran out. I asked him if there was anyone else inside which he said there wasn't.

The thatched cottage was quickly engulfed in flames according to eyewitnesses. Picture: Dorchester Fire Station

"I quickly brought him to the car where I took my wife's mobile and called the fire brigade.

“The man told me his kitchen had caught fire. The operator told me three engines were being sent but they would take 16 minutes."

The property, which contains a private home and holiday let, quickly became overwhelmed with flames.

Despite initially being told no one was inside the neighbouring property, Mr Crawford noticed lights were on with a white SUV parked outside.

As his wife, Louise, comforted the elderly resident, Mr Crawford ran back towards the burning cottage and loudly hit the property’s door to get the occupants’ attention.

Damian Crawford (left) with his wife Louise Crawford (right) raised the alarm after driving towards the burning cottage.

“The smoke was so thick by now and the fire had already moved across the semi's roof”, he added.

“I banged on the door so hard I must have scared the occupants to death but a man came to the door and struggled to unlock it.

“I just shouted 'fire' as loudly as I could. He managed to get the door open and I told him the attached cottage was on fire and had already spread to his roof.

“I realised I was still on the phone to the operator and told them I was getting the people out of the neighbouring cottage.

“The man ran upstairs to get his wife who was in the shower and I stayed with the kids.

“When the mum and dad came down, I grabbed one of their two children and took him outside while the father took his daughter.”

Firefighters at the scene on Friday morning (October 23)

The man from the neighbouring property drove his car away from the burning cottage as family members of the elderly man checked to see if he was OK.

“I told the family that everybody was safe and fire brigade was on their way”, he said.

“I was causing a traffic jam so I decided there was nothing more I could do so my wife and I drove on into Weymouth, passing four fire engines on the way.

“I was just worried about the people inside the property. I am really glad that everyone is safe. We were in the right place at the right time.”

Nearly 70 firefighters from across Dorset tackle blaze 

At the height of the fire, there were nearly 70 firefighters tackling the blaze at the semi-detached cottage, stripping thatch from the roof and salvaging possessions from the two homes.

13 fire crews from across Dorset including Weymouth, Bridport, Beaminster, Wareham and Poole tried to contain the blaze.

Firefighters from Weymouth Fire Station returned to the scene on Friday (October 23) to hose down the property and access the building.

Station manager Charlie Pack, who was the incident commander, said: “The fire started in the kitchen of one of the cottages, but quickly spread up into the thatched roof shared by the pair of cottages.

“As a result, both properties have suffered significant damage and the occupant of one cottage suffered smoke inhalation and had to be taken to hospital.”

A fire investigation is on-going to establish the exact cause of the blaze.