A woman has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after a fire at a block of flats on Dorchester Road, near Tesco Express in Weymouth.

Residents were evacuated as emergency crews tackled the blaze, with the council attending to offer emergency accommodation to those affected. Police were alerted by the fire service at 12.49am on Sunday 20 September 2026 and helped with evacuations and road closures.

No casualties were reported. The woman remains in police custody while detectives from Dorset County CID work with the fire service to establish the cause. The investigation is ongoing.
In a statement from Dprset Police:

"Dorset Police received a report at 12.49am on Sunday 20 September 2026 from the fire service in relation to a property fire in Dorchester Road in Weymouth.

Officers attended and assisted with road closures and evacuating residents from the building.

There were no reports of any casualties.
Detectives from Dorset County CID are carrying out enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the fire and are continuing to liaise with the fire service to establish the cause.

As part of their investigation, a woman has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remains in police custody at this time.
The investigation remains ongoing."