RESIDENTS forced to evacuate their homes after a fire broke out on the fifth floor of a residential building in Bournemouth.

Over 50 firefighters and around ten fire engines were called to Westover Road after reports of the fire at 1.31am on Monday, December 18.

The ambulance service attended, alongside police, and treated one resident suffering from smoke inhalation.

A member of staff at Premier Inn on Westover Road said he heard the alarms coming from YMCA Bournemouth next door.

Bournemouth Echo:

Gareth Sherwood, CEO of YMCA Bournemouth confirmed: “At approximately 1:30am this morning, the smoke alarm at YMCA Westover Road sounded following the malfunction of a charging appliance.

“Staff attended to the situation immediately and extinguished the fire within seconds of the appliance catching alight.

“The building was evacuated in line with our safety procedures, and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service attended within eight minutes in automatic response to the alarm.

“The fire had been extinguished prior to the fire services arrival, and the crew carried out routine inspections before declaring the building safe.

"At 3:15am, all residents and staff were permitted to re-enter the building.

“It is with thanks and sincere credit to our staff that the fire was caught and managed so quickly, resulting in no injuries and only very minor smoke damage to one room in the building.

"I also wish to extend my thanks to the emergency services for their support and fast response in inspecting the building.”

Fire crews from Springbourne, Westbourne, Redhill Park, Poole, Wimborne, Ferndown and Hamworthy attended the incident on Westover Road.

Firefighters from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the fire using two main lines and left the scene at 2.32am.

Group manager Ant Bholah, who attended the incident said: “Firefighters were alerted to the fire after smoke detectors within the building activated.

“Thankfully this early warning gave all residents the time to evacuate.

“The cause of this incident is thought to be accidental, but a fire investigation continues.”

Further information on fire safety can be found on DW Fire website.

Dorset Police said: "We received a report at 1.45am from the fire service reporting that it was dealing with a property fire in Westover Road in Bournemouth.

"Officers attended to assist and left the scene at around 3.45am."

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 02:04hrs on Monday 18 December to an incident on Westover Road, Bournemouth. We sent an operations officer.”