Fire has ripped through acres of an Exeter beauty spot, homes were evacuated, and residents were told to keep windows and doors shut as firefighters from two counties battled to control a wildfire.
The fire service on Tuesday afternoon (August 11) received multiple calls reporting a grassfire in Mincinglake Valley Park, Beacon Heath, in Exeter – a spot popular with dog walkers and nature lovers.
Firefighters from 20 stations across Devon and Somerset were tasked to tackle the wildfire.
Photo: Elsie Emery.
Firefighters say the blaze has now been contained but an area the equivalent size of around 30 football pitches has been destroyed.
Firefighters say the blaze has destroyed 50 acres of grassland.
Photo: Chip Danger.
Axminster firefighters were among 20 crews tackling the wildfire on Tuesday and remain onsite overnight as efforts continue to to extinguish the flames.
An Axminster Fire Station spokesperson said: “With the ability to change over crew, Axminster remains at this incident with a refreshed crew.
“The fire is now contained within the area of Mincinglake Valley.
“The fire has affected an area of about 50 acres and at the height of this incident there were 20 fire engines as well as a number of specialist vehicles. “
Smoke from the blaze could be seen for miles.
Photo: Karen Gordon.
Liz Pole, Exeter city councillor for the Mincinglake area, said homes at the Stoke Hill side of the park were evacuated.
And a field opposite Pendragon Road, in Beacon Heath, was now ‘cinder ash’.
Firefighters by Tuesday night (August 11) had contained the blaze to Mincinglake Valley Park.
Photo: Elsie Emery.
Cllr Cole said neighbours had been supervised to help dampen embers in the valley park.
She said: “I spoke earlier to a resident who had discovered the fire, when it was at an early stage, returning towards Mile Lane from the brook. He had tried to stamp it out, but it was too hot.”
Residents living near the valley park were urged to keep windows and doors shut again the smoke.
Photo: Elsie Emery.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) said fire control received a volume of calls reporting a grassfire with multiple outbreaks in Mincinglake Valley Park in Exeter.
Specialist vehicles and firefighting equipment, a water bowser, and 20 fire engines from across two counties were tasked to the scene in a bid to stop the spread of fire.
Smoke from the blaze could be seen from as far away as Haldon Hill.
Several homes at risk from the flames were evacuated and residents living near the valley park have been warned to keep doors and windows closed against the smoke.
