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A blaze that tore through cliffs at Bournemouth cliffs is believed to have been ignited by a smoke bomb.
Fire crews were battling the huge gorse fire along the seafront, after residents reported a cloud of bright yellow smoke engulf the bottom of the cliff by the beach huts.
Firefighters were called shortly after 3.30pm today, with four pumps and the aerial ladder platform dispatched to deal with a tricky location.
A spokesman for Dorset Police said: 'Dorset Police is currently assisting the fire service following a fire along the cliffs on Undercliff Drive in Bournemouth.
'The fire is at East Cliff between Pier Approach toward Boscombe pier.
'Officers have set up a cordon and assisting the fire service who are tackling the blaze.
'A section of the promenade has been evacuated as a precaution. There have not been any reports of any injuries.
'We advise people to avoid the area while emergency services deal with the incident.'
On one of the hottest days of the year so far, the beach was packed with visitors enjoying the sunshine.
Ivor Baker, 49, from Portsmouth, visiting with his wife Tracey, 54. told the Bournemouth Daily Echo: 'The fire started behind one of the beach huts, where there is a sandy bank,' he said.
'It went right the way up the cliff straight away. I could hear it ripping through the bushes.
'There was no panic, everyone went to take a look. There was a yellow flare before it started.
'There was a scream and the smoke went up the cliff. The fire started immediately after that.'
John Farr, 40, on holiday from Slough, said a yellow smoke bomb had been the cause, and he had been told by another beach goer it was thrown behind a beach hut by a child.
'It was a yellow bomb, I saw a load of yellow smoke and thought what's that. It caught fire and just went up.'
Police confirmed the blaze was under control but advised people avoid the area.