Firefighters tackling ongoing fire on Dartmoor

Firefighters are still battling a large wildfire on Dartmoor that started on Sunday evening.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze had spread across an area 3km (1.9 miles) by 1.4km (0.9 miles) and on Sunday 13 stations had been deployed to the Dartmoor Forest area near Cut Hill.

Wildlife support officers and a police helicopter were also deployed, which confirmed there were no concerns about injuries or missing people.

On Monday the fire service asked people to avoid the area and any properties affected by the smoke should close their windows.

In an update on its website, the fire service said at about midnight a further five appliances were mobilised from Moretonhampstead and Yelverton as part of a relief strategy.

“Crews are carrying out a watching brief from two strategic locations surrounding the fire. The wind is currently blowing against the fire preventing it spreading quickly,” it said.

At 08:00, it said two more fire appliances from Tavistock and Crediton were in attendance to provide “further relief”, as well as an incident command unit to relieve the intensive care unit (ICU) from Totnes.

“Crews have confirmed the fire is still burning and in the predicted direction,” said the fire service.

“The 4×4 from Princetown has been remobilised to assist with access on the moor.

“Following a multi-agency meeting being held, 2 ATV’s from Tavistock and Bovey Tracey have also been remobilised to access and extinguish the fire.”

It added the cause was currently “unknown”.