FOUR floors of flats in Dorchester were hit by a devastating fire that is believed to be accidental, the fire service said.

Firefighters from Dorchester were joined by crews across the county after a balcony on a second-floor flat close to the Brewery Square shopping centre in Copper Street caught fire just before 6.43pm on Friday (August 29).

Crews battled the blaze until 11pm when the fire was eventually scaled back. Residents were unable to return home, but Brewery Square said in a Facebook post that all residents were accounted for with no injuries.

A Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “The fire started on the balcony of the second floor and has affected four floors in total.

“The cause is believed to be accidental. We continue to work with the local authority structural engineers and British Red Cross who are helping to support residents and firefighters at the scene.”

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The fire service is now calling on more people to join up as on-call firefighters to help protect their neighbourhoods.

“We would like to thank you all for the kind words and praise you have given us,” a Dorchester Fire Station spokesperson said.

“We are glad to say no one got hurt and fire investigation is being carried out to find the cause.

“Dorchester and lots of other stations across the service needs more on-call firefighters to keep the fire appliances available.

“If you think you are up for the challenge and want to join or just want more information, contact your local station or click on the link below.”

For more information, visit www.dwfire.org.uk/working-for-us/on-call-firefighters/