A MAN was rescued after a fire broke out in the early hours at a property in Bournemouth.

The man was rescued and taken to safety during the incident at a ground floor flat in Elmes Road in Winton at around 2.20am on Wednesday, April 13

Firefighters from Redhill, Westbourne, Springbourne and Christchurch attended.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “On arrival crews were faced with smoke and flames issuing from the ground floor flat of the property.”

The fire service said following investigations, the most likely cause of the fire was smoking materials.

The spokesperson added: “Thankfully due to the working detection and warning systems within the building, the other residents in the building were alerted of the fire and were able to escape quickly and call the fire service.”

The incident was dealt with by 3.25am. 

Advice has been issued to smokers in a bid to prevent fires.

It includes ensuring cigarettes, cigars and pipes are properly extinguished when you have finished smoking.

Not leaving lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended and never smoking in bed.

People have also been urged to use a proper ashtray that won’t tip over easily and isn’t made of material that won’t burn and not emptying ash into a wastepaper basket.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has been contacted for further details.