AROUND 20 firefighters were involved in putting out a fire at Norley Farm in Northlew last Thursday.

More than 500 tyres on 150 square metres of open ground were well alight when firecrews arrived around 7.20pm.

One fire appliance from Hatherleigh, one from Okehampton and one from North Tawton attended with watch commander Kevin Drew in charge.

Fire crews used one hose reel jet to protect an adjacent thatched building and requested water bowsers for a foam attack from Exeter and Barnstaple to attend.

Station Commander Ian Donovan from Okehampton fire station, who attended the scene, said: 'The area and the surrounding buildings were protected and a large amount of foam was used to extinguish the fire.

'These type of fires can be difficult to extinguish. It would take large amounts of water as the fire is deep rooted, so we waited for the bowsers from Exeter and Barnstaple to arrive so we could use them to put it out with foam.'

The whole operation took around one and a half hours.

Group Commander Newman, a fire service hazardous materials and environmental pollution officer was also called to the scene. Following liaison with the Environment Agency, he initiated the use of foam with two hose reel jets and two breathing apparatus wearers to extinguish approximately 500 tyres. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the fire service.