AS INVESTIGATIONS continue into a fire which sparked a mass evacuation, fire chiefs are urging people to park their cars sensibly.

Around 100 households in and around Holly Road, Weymouth were evacuated in the early hours of Sunday morning, when a garage containing gas cylinders caught fire.

Police and the fire service have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the blaze.

But it has emerged that several fire engines struggled to get to the scene of the fire because of cars parked either side of the road.

Firefighters will be visiting homes in the area to remind residents of their Are We Getting Through campaign.

They will also be offering Safe and Well visits and reassuring residents following the incident.

Homes were evacuated and a 100 metre cordon set up in response to the fire, which broke out just before 5am on Sunday. A major incident was declared and around 45 firefighters rushed to the scene.

Nearby pubs and hotels opened their doors to offer shelter to those who had to flee their homes, and Dorset County Council and the Red Cross also offered assistance.

A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said that a joint investigation is being carried out with Dorset Police - although she stressed that this does not mean the cause of the fire was suspicious.

The spokesman added that residents will notice an increased presence of firefighters until Friday.

She said: “Fire crews will be in the area for the rest of the week to talk to residents and offer our Safe and Well checks to anyone with particular concerns. or those who don’t have working smoke alarms.

“We are also advising people about car parking and access. We had a few issues getting the fire engines down the street.

“Simple things like checking your tyres are straight, putting your wing mirrors in and obeying the usual parking rules can make a big difference.”

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service advises that event their smallest vehicles need a minimum of three metres - the width of two cars - to pass safely.

Delays could have serious, life-threatening consequences.

Other advice includes only parking on one side of the street on narrow roads, not parking too close to corners and not blocking driveways.

Visit www.dwfire.org.uk/education/road-safety-education/are-we-getting-through/