SEVERAL fire crews from West Devon were sent to help stop the spreading of a large fire in the open on Dartmoor on Thursday.

One fire engine and an off road vehicle from Tavistock and an engine from Yelverton were sent to the large fire at Willsworthy Range just after 3pm. On arrival a grass fire was confirmed stretching three quarters of a mile and being fanned by strong winds. Crews requested assistance of another two engines and another off road vehicle, which were sent from Okehampton and Hatherleigh.

By 3.45pm a further four engines from Bere Alston, Princetown, North Tawton and Chagford as well as a water bowser from Plympton and a command support unit from Honiton was required — which increased to a total of 13 engines and a second water bowser by 4.25pm.

Crews battled the fire until just after 6pm, by fighting the blaze in four sections. The fire spanned two miles in total, the cause of which was believed to be accidental.