DOZENS of firefighters worked to save possessions from a cottage badly damaged by a thatch fire.

Crews were called at 5.58pm on Friday evening to reports of a thatch roof alight in Holt, near Wimborne.

Photo: DWFRS

By 7.30pm, 10 fire engines plus specialist vehicles were on the scene – around 50 firefighters – battling the blaze.

“Crews have cut fire breaks in the thatch and are using breathing apparatus and hose reels to extinguish the fire,” a DWFRS spokesperson said at that time.

“Firefighters are also working to salvage belongings from the property.”

At 8.30pm, a spokesperson said ‘good progress’ was being made to bring the fire under control, with 60 firefighters on the scene.

Then, at 10pm, they said: “Firefighting is continuing from the outside of the property. Firefighters will remain in attendance for most of the night, although we will be scaling down our response.

“The road through Holt (Holt Lane) will be closed through the night and local residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed.”

By 8am on Saturday morning (February 11), the blaze was under control.

The spokesperson added: “Firefighters remained at this incident overnight. They worked hard and were able to save the majority of the householders possessions.

“No one has been injured.”

A crew remained at the scene on Saturday morning, damping down hotspots.