UPDATED: Arrest after blaze in Bridport flats (From Dorset Echo)

Four fire crews called to flat fire in Bridport

7:26am Tuesday 29th January 2013 in News By James Tourgout

POLICE have arrested a 37-year-old man Bridport man on suspicion of arson after a fire in a block of flats in the town on last night.

Four crews of firefighters tackled the blaze in Priory Lane and were at the scene for more than an hour.

Officers from Bridport, Charmouth, Beaminster and Lyme Regis attended just after 8pm.

The blaze broke out in the bedroom of an upper flat in the four-storey block.

Officers from Bridport and Lyme Regis, who were training in the area at the time, were first on the scene but called for assistance from the two further crews.

The bedroom was completely damaged by the fire and smoke and the rest of the flat was affected by smoke and water.

A neighbour in the flats opposite, who did not want to be named, said she heard the alarms and saw smoke but no flames.

She said: "They evacuated everyone, unless they were just outside being nosy.

"It was lucky no-one was hurt.

"The gas and the plumbing are here this morning so whether they think that had something to do with it I don't know.

"When I went to bed at 10 o'clock I saw the last fire engine leaving."

The flat was sealed off on Tuesday while police scenes of crime officers carried out a forensic investigation.