FIRE crews in West Devon have been busy over the past week with a number of gorse fires across Dartmoor National Park.

A fire started on moorland at the edge of Okehampton Training Camp, near Moorgate Farm last Friday, just before 1pm. Two crews from Okehampton dealt with the fire, spanning five acres of gorse and bracken and being fanned by strong winds. The crews used a hosereel jet and beaters to bring the blaze under control.

One of the biggest blazes took place in Lydford on Saturday just before 2pm, where around 600 acres close to Chat Tor were engulfed in fire.

Crews used pumps and beaters to tackle the fire, which at around 1.50pm only spanned 150 acres. Local commoners worked alongside firefighters.

The crews efforts were hampered by strong changing winds

By 7.30pm around 600 acres of moorland was involved in the fire. As the blaze was brought under control all firefighters left the scene and care was left in the hands of Dartmoor Rangers.