A WILDFIRE which raged on Dartmoor last night is believed to be out after fire crews spent the night containing the blaze near Tavistock, which spread more than three miles.

Speaking to the Times at 8am this morning a spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said that fire officers were now at the scene, in the region of Tavy Cleave, checking the area and a drone had been set up.

He said that treacherous conditions last night with strong winds and not being able to see very well hampered fire crews but they were able to contain the blaze safe in the knowledge that that it was no risk to people or animals.

‘This morning the site has been visited and there are no signs of fire but officers will remain in place until they are completely sure that is the case,’ he said.

The spokesman said it was to early to say if the fire was started deliberately and a full fire investigation was now taking place: ‘At the moment it is too early to speculate,’ he said.

He added that despite warnings to keep people away from the site, many had turned up to take photographs and see what was happening.

‘Apart from the fact that wildfires spread very quickly we are also in a lockdown,’ he said.

Five fire crews and five wildfire crews in special 4x4 vehicles that could access the site very quickly were at the scene last night but the operation was scaled back for safety reasons due to high winds.

‘We had the Dartmoor Commoners helping us as well but we had to take them off the moor because the situation was too dangerous,’ he said.

This fire is the latest in a spate of winter blazes, including a number in Scotland’s Western Isles tihs week.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said winter fires were not uncommon due to extreme cold "curing" or drying out vegetation, and happened in Antarctica, Norway and Scandinavia.