Couple escapes from house fire at Charlton Marshall
A couple escaped from a major house fire in Dorset after being trapped on the first floor by smoke.
Fire crews were called to the blaze at Charlton Marshall around midnight by a woman who said she and her husband were unable to get out.
They later jumped out of a window and were treated for minor injuries.
The A350 has been closed between the A31 at Sturminster Marshall and the A354 at Blandford while structural engineers examine the building.
Firefighters in six appliances brought the fire under control within three hours.
Incident commander, Louis Minchella, said: "The flames were at least 30 to 40 feet high at this point so it was impossible to go inside."
He added there was a smoke alarm in the house but it was not working or tested.
Power was cut off to the house during the incident which affected some other properties in the area.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.