FIRECREWS from several stations throughout West Devon and East Cornwall spent more than five hours tackling a substantial blaze at a woodland near Lydford last Wednesday night.

Two fire engines from Okehampton, two from Tavistock, one from Princetown, one from Hatherleigh and another from Callington, plus water bowsers from Plympton and Exeter were called to Burley Wood at 3.40pm last Wednesday, to tackle a fire which had spread throughout 12 acres of small trees and gorseland.

The incident command vehicle with support pump from Greenbank also attended, as the crews tried to form a break in the fire, to prevent it spreading to the main area of forest.

The crews used five hose reels and a water shuttle along with beaters as they worked in the area, which eventually affected some 20 acres.

The crews finally left the woodland at about 8.30pm having damped down the area, successfully stopping the spread of the fire into the forest.