A National Trust property had to shut its doors on Sunday after flames erupted at the location.

An explosive incident involving a lithium battery occurred in an office at Kingston Lacy on Sunday 22 March, prompting the dispatch of three fire crews to the scene.

Wimborne Fire Station indicated that they received swift notification of the blaze thanks to functioning smoke detection equipment and noted the National Trust property’s strong fire safety preparedness.

The fire station also conveyed appreciation to the trust employees for their hospitality in providing food and refreshments to the crews after their efforts to bring the fire under control.

Kingston Lacy is a 17th-century Italianate country house and grounds located near Wimborne Minster. Often referred to as a miniature National Gallery, it houses an extensive art collection alongside significant Egyptian antiquities.

The fire did not affect the main building or visitor areas, which welcomed guests again on Monday 23 March.

A representative from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service indicated that crews were dispatched to Kingston Lacy House at 11.51am on 22 March following reports of a minor blaze in a storage area of the stable block’s restaurant facility.

Personnel from Wimborne, Poole and Redhill Park fire stations responded, with four firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus and two hose reel lines deployed.

The incident was declared resolved at 1.17pm, and enquiries established that the blaze was caused unintentionally by a lithium ion battery.