Ten fire crews, along with other specialist units, were sent to tackle a large blaze in a hay barn in Princetown over the weekend, which took nearly 10 hours to get under control.

Just before 4.30am on Saturday (August 3), two fire engines from Princetown and Yelverton and an additional water carrier from Plympton initially attended the large fire inside the barn containing hay and straw. As they got to work, they requested the attendance of two more crews from Tavistock and Bere Alston, as well as an incident support unit from Bovey Tracey, the welfare unit from Ivybridge and a telehandler to help in attempts to extinguish the fire.

Steady progress was being made and at around 6am two more crews from Crownhill and the second from Tavistock were requested to help.

Four other crews from Chagford, Plymstock and North Tawton attended at 10am to relieve four of the engines on scene.

Just before 2pm on Sunday, a spokesperson for the fire service said: ‘The incident commander confirmed this was one large barn containing three separate stacks of hay bales, one of which was severely damaged by fire.

‘Approximately 120 bales were affected and removed from the barn to a nearby field to burn out.

‘In use were two compressed foam jets, two main jets, two hose reel jets, one triple extension ladder, a thermal imaging camera and a temperature probe.

‘In total six breathing apparatus wearers, one fire service manatou and two additional mechanical drags were used to assist with the removal of the bales.’

Crews revisited the site at 7pm and confirmed no further visits were required. Duty of care was left with the owner of the farm.