A ROW of seven thatched cottages in Hillmorhayes, Drewsteignton escaped serious damage on Monday. Smoke was seen coming from the thatch around the shared chimney of two cottages. Firefighters were called to the incident at 2.05pm. Eight fire engines from Chagford, Okehampton, North Tawton, Bovey Tracey, Crediton and Exeter attended the scene along with the incident command vehicle, water foam carrier, hose layer and aerial ladder platform from Exmouth, Exeter and Honiton. Firefighters made a fire break either side of the chimney to stop the fire from spreading and after almost an hour of tackling the blaze approximately 20% of the thatch was severely damaged by fire and removed from the roof. Ian Donovan, station officer at Okehampton, said: ?There was tremendous work done by the crews and it prevented the fire from spreading. ?I am really pleased with the result.? l A COW was released by firefighters on Sunday after it became trapped by wire at a barn in Hatherleigh. One crew from Hatherleigh and a vet attended the scene just before 11.30am and found the cow trapped by its feet. Firefighters used small tools and bolt croppers to release the cow. l A VEHICLE was severely damaged by fire on Sunday while it was parked in the area of the ATC buildings on Tors Road in Okehampton. Two crews from Okehampton attended the scene just before 5am and extinguished the blaze on a 4 x 4 vehicle by using two breathing apparatus and two hose reels. l FIREFIGHTERS from Okehampton attended Chichacott Road on Saturday and gave first aid to a driver whose car had overturned The crew was at the scene at 11.15am and made the area safe.
