A MAN was taken to hospital as dozens of firefighters battled a house blaze in Weymouth.

The fire yesterday morning closed Buxton Road as residents told of smoke billowing from the upstairs window of a semi-detached house. Eyewitnesses said they saw a man being helped from a window by fire crews.

Ambulance crews were also called to the scene and a spokesperson confirmed two people suffered smoke inhalation.

One man was taken to Dorset County Hospital while another person was treated at the scene.

Speaking at the scene, Dave Graham of the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said: “There was a severe fire on the first floor of a domestic residential premises on Buxton Road.

“We had approximately 35 staff with six pumps on scene to bring the fire under control. Crews also rescued one middle-aged man from the premises.”

Adam Collinge, operations officer for the South Western Ambulance Service, said it had received reports of one person trapped inside the house, but once on scene crews confirmed there were in fact two men inside the property.

He said one of the occupants initially refused to leave the house involved in the fire.

Local resident Eddie Chapman said he noticed a “horrible pungent aroma” and plumes of black smoke drifting over Old Castle Road.

He added: “This was followed by sirens and the emergency services. The fire was contained within 15 minutes and appears to have started in a bedroom.”

Another Buxton Road resident said he saw smoke billowing from the house at about 9.15am that morning.

He said he saw a motorist call the fire service after they drove past the house and noticed smoke coming from an upstairs window.

Dorset Police was called and officers provided traffic management assistance during the incident.

The upstairs of the house received extensive damage and the fire service said it is believed no fire alarms were fitted in the property.

Mr Graham said: “If fire alarms were fitted in the house and had gone off, this fire wouldn’t have been nearly as severe."

“We would urge residents to ensure fire alarms are fitted in their houses; a fire could significantly develop in a house before anyone notices and calls 999. Fire alarms stop that from happening.”

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service is investigating the cause of the fire.