ARSON is suspected to be the cause of a barn blaze at a Bridestowe farm which firefighters tackled for six hours.
Fire broke out at a barn at Blackabroom Farm at around 12.15am on Monday. Firefighters were called to the lean-to barn which was used to store 32 bales of straw.
Fifty percent of the building was damaged by the fire, as were most
of its contents.
Two fire appliances from Okehampton, one from Tavistock and an additional water tanker from Exeter attended.
Okehampton station officer Ian Donovan said livestock had to be moved from the surrounding area before the blaze could be tackled.
He said the barn was between two existing buildings, so firefighters had to ensure the fire did not spread to other buildings.
Fire crews left the scene, having extinguished the blaze, at 6.15am.
PC Gareth Twigg, of the Arson Task Force, said enquires at the scene suggested the fire was started deliberately, and the task force in conjunction with local police was continuing investigations.
PC Twigg said the task force worked in conjunction with police and the fire service, but added: ?Arson does not tend to be a big problem in West Devon.?
PC Twigg asked anyone who may have been in the area at the time of the fire to contact Okehampton Police on 08705 777444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, where they could give information anonymously if they so wish.