A FAMILY has lost all of their possessions after a fire engulfed their flat on the top floor of a building in Bournemouth town centre.

The blaze on Saturday evening started accidentally after oil ignited in front of a resident while he was cooking at his home in the B-Central accommodation on Commercial Road.

He attempted to tackle the fire with an extinguisher, but was forced to leave the property for his own safety and that of his two-year-old daughter, who was with him at the time.

On leaving his flat, the resident closed the door behind him, which the fire service says helped to contain the fire.

The fire alarms sounded and other residents in the building escaped safely. More than 60 firefighters from across Dorset and Hampshire dealt with the incident on the eighth floor of the high-rise building.

The blaze, which occurred around 7.30pm, was responded to immediately by the fire service and other agencies.

Crews dealt with the fire from outside the building using an aerial ladder platform.

Craig Baker, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service area manager, said: “We have had a very serious fire in a flat on the upper level of the block in Commercial Road. It was on level eight - the top level for that part of the building.

“There was an extensive fire in that flat so we responded by sending initially seven fire engines, plus a higher level appliance, and we then sent a further two appliances, plus support appliances to help to manage the fire.

“The fire was quickly extinguished for the type of building it was in, but there was extensive damage to the flat in question, and gave some spectacular views of the fire to members of the public.

“The fire was under control for some time, but we needed to check the flat itself and the adjacent flat.

“Initially we were told there were people inside the building so we needed to make a thorough search of the areas within the flat and surrounding flats to make sure nobody was in there.”

Firefighters from 10 stations attended the scene and used 18 breathing apparatus and three main lines, along with the aerial ladder platform, to extinguish the fire.

Police were also called to the incident and placed cordons along Commercial Road.

People who live on the upper floors of the building were unable to return to their homes on Saturday night.

Bournemouth Borough Council staff supported residents of 24 properties, including overnight accommodation for those who needed it.

Mr Baker added: “It was a multi-agency response. with extensive police, particularly with the part of Bournemouth we are in - the town centre on a Saturday night in a very popular area of the town.”

“We had ambulance standing by just in case. Red Cross were here and local authority are helping us to re-home residents of the flats that we need to.”