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Fire crews battle four grassland fires in one day

Charlotte CoxDevon
News imageMark Keenan A field can be seen with plumes of smoke emerging from the grassland with houses in the foreground and trees in the background.Mark Keenan
The blaze in Collaton St Mary was still being tackled by firefighters on Saturday evening

Firefighters covering Devon and Somerset battled at least four grassland fires on Saturday as temperatures continued to soar.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said on Saturday evening it was still at the scene of a fire which was raging across fields in Collaton St Mary, in Paignton, Devon.

Meanwhile, crews battled a blaze in Chudleigh, Devon, for 12 hours and were still "damping down" at 17:30 BST, while there had been a grassland fire in Marldon and crews attended another blaze in Ilminster, Somerset, on Saturday afternoon.

A spokesman for the service said while the exact causes were yet to be identified, "the heat and strong winds" had contributed to their intensity.

News imageDevon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service An area of scorched grass is seen on a clifftop surrouned by greenery, while in the background the cliff curves around to the sea and sky beyond. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
Firefighters were called on Friday afternoon to a clifftop blaze thought to have been started by an open fire

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to Collaton St Mary, at about 14:30 BST on Saturday.

A neighbour told the BBC there were a "multitude of engines" in the area, which is close to farmers' barns and a housing estate.

The service said the fire began in dry grass before spreading to nearby fields, scorching an area of 450m by 250m.

Eight crews used water jets and beaters to try and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby fields, while farmers were also enlisted - "using ploughing equipment to create fire breaks".

It is expected a "relief crew" will be called in on Saturday evening to take over their work.

Meanwhile another fire took hold in woods near Chudleigh, Devon, at 05:30 BST on Saturday, with crews remaining at the scene for 12 hours.

A smaller fire on grassland in Ilminster began at 13:45 BST, while firefighters remain at a fire in Marldon, Paignton, after being called at 16:40 BST.

Firefighters tackled a grass fire on a clifftop near Hope's Nose, Torquay, on Friday afternoon.

A spokesman said it had been caused by "an open fire which hadn't been properly extinguished", causing damage to grassland over a 50m (164ft) area.

He said Brixham RNLI had helped transport firefighters and equipment to the remote site, adding: "Please avoid having open fires and barbecues in the countryside."

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