FIRE crews from Bovey Tracey and Newton Abbot joined other teams of firefighters to tackle a large gorse fire on Dartmoor yesterday afternoon (Monday).

Fire Control said that more than 30 calls had been received to reports of a fire on Dartmoor.

A spokesperson said: ‘The fire initially started in a camper van and due to winds, spread to the gorse land nearby.

‘One fire engine from Yelverton was sent to the original incident, and while en route, several more calls were received by members of the public to say that the moorland was alight.

‘One fire engine from Bovey Tracey, one from Princetown and a water bowser from Torquay were sent on to the incident.

‘On arrival, crews confirmed one camper van was well alight and the fire had spread to the gorse. The Officer In Charge requested the assistance of a fourth fire engine. This came from Newton Abbot. A further appliance was also sent from Tavistock.

‘This is a large gorse fire, with a fire front of approximately half a mile, escalated quickly by the high winds. Further fire engines are attending from the surrounding areas, Modbury, Okehampton, Chagford, Crownhill Plymouth, and other appliances from Totnes, Ivybridge and Danes Castle Exeter.

At 6.30pm the Fire Control reported: ‘The fire was covering an area of approximately one square kilometre involving moorland, gorse and trees.

‘Crews are using two main jets, one hose reel jet, water back packs, beaters and all terrain vehicle. The fire is continuing to burn in a westerly direction with the fire front having reduced to 200 metres.’

In an update at 8.45pm they reported: ‘This incident has been scaled down to two fire engines from Bere Alston and Paignton, crews have requested assistance from the police to recover the campervan.’

At 12.45pm Fire control reported that all crews had left the scene, however one fire engine from Bere Alston would be making a re-visit in the morning to check the fire was fully extinguished.