A total of eight crews fro South Devon were involved in bringing it under control(Image: Totnes Fire Station / Facebook)

Dramatic photos of 'significant' wildfire incident in Devon

by · DevonLive

A fire which tore through two acres of fields on the outskirts of Paignton has been described as a "significant incident".

Eight fire crews from Paignton, Torquay, Totnes and other towns in South Devon were called to the blaze in a field at Collaton St Mary.

A water carrier and a command centre were also in attendance after the fir broke out at around 2.30pm.

A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the crews tried to stop the fire from spreading to a nearby field as it was being fuelled by dry grass and strong wind, but it did leading to about two and a half acres of land, or a square of about 450 metres by 450 metres being on fire.

"They have made good progress using beaters and dampening the ground," the spokesperson said. "They are working with local farmers using plowing machinery to create a fire break to try and stop the fire spreading to more fields."

In a post on Facebook, Totnes Fire Station which attended the incident said the 'significant incident' had come on the back of a grain dryer incident at a local farm, a rescue involving people in the water, a small fire in the open, a crash involving people trapped and a carbon monoxide alarm - and that was just in the morning.

This afternoon the Totnes crew also took part in an animal rescue in the Buckfastleigh area, assisting the ambulance service with a casualty on the moors and provided standby cover in Torquay before being called out to the Paignton fire.

They said: "The wildfire was a significant incident, with additional resources drawn from across the area. As the scale of the fire became clear, the Incident Commander escalated the response to eight fire engines, supported by a number of specialist vehicles, to bring the fire under control safely and effectively while ensuring fire cover was maintained across the county.

"After a long and demanding operational period, our crews have now returned to station, enjoyed a well-earned ice cream and made the appliances and equipment ready for the next call.

"With the current spell of hot weather, we'd like to remind everyone that the wildfire risk remains very high.

"Please avoid lighting open fires, disposable barbecues, or anything else that could accidentally ignite dry grass or vegetation. A small spark is all it takes."

The field fire at Collaton St Mary near Paignton(Image: Totnes Fire Station / Facebook)
The field fire at Collaton St Mary near Paignton(Image: Totnes Fire Station / Facebook)
More than two acres of fields burnt down(Image: Totnes Fire Station / Facebook)
A total of eight crews fro South Devon were involved in bringing it under control(Image: Totnes Fire Station / Facebook)