Photo: BCP Council
A number of beach huts were destroyed in a fire on Bournemouth seafront in the early hours of this morning.
Firefighters from Springbourne, Westbourne and Redhill Park tackled the blaze in Undercliff Drive on Bournemouth’s East Beach at just after one o’clock.
They found nine beach huts well alight on arrival.
An area of the cliff was also damaged.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
Anthony Rogers, Head of Seafront at BCP Council, told Bournemouth One: “In the early hours of Tuesday morning we were made aware of a fire involving several beach huts on East beach, to the east of Bournemouth Pier.
“This has sadly resulted in a loss of seven huts, with two further adjacent huts and a small area of the cliff sustaining some damage. Beach Hut 2359, the site of the first municipal beach hut, was one of these adjacent huts.
“The fire has been extinguished by the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) and the area made safe by our team.
The area past the site is accessible, although we ask that people avoid the area around the huts to allow council teams to carry out their work safely.
“The council is reviewing CCTV footage of the area and will work in partnership with DWFRS on any necessary investigation.
“We thank the fire service for their swift response, as well as residents and visitors for their understanding and cooperation with the safety measures in place around the site of the fire.”
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service told Bournemouth One: “We were called to East Beach, Undercliff Drive, Bournemouth at 1.20am this morning (27th May) for a fire involving multiple beach huts.
“Crews attended from Springbourne, Westbourne and Redhill Park, together with the aerial ladder platform from Westbourne.
“They found nine huts well alight, as well as an area of cliff approx 25m x 15m.
“Two main jets and four hose reel jets were used to extinguish the fire, and the stop was at 2.50am.
“The scene was handed over to BCP Council, and investigations will continue today into what caused the fire.”