FIREFIGHTERS from Chagford and Okehampton joined crews from Moretonhampstead and Crediton when they battled to contain a blaze in a steep gorge near Cranbrook Castle at Moretonhampstead last Friday. The crews used water from a nearby stream in addition to a hosereel and beaters in their efforts to extinguish the forest fire, which affected an area roughly 400 metres square. Okehampton fire chief Ian Donovan said the alarm was raised at about 12.30pm ? but due to the terrain, the crews did not finally leave the area until about 9pm. Mr Donovan said: ?It was really very difficult ? the terrain was so steep and it was very difficult for us to get enough water into the location. ?The crews did work extremely hard.? Mr Donovan said the flames affected a substantial area of woodland. l Firefighters from North Tawton joined crews from Chulmleigh and Barnstaple when they tackled a blaze in a barn at Wembworthy last Saturday. The barn, which was being used as a store, was severely damaged during the incident, which occurred just after 1pm. Firecrews used two hose reels and a jet to extinguish the blaze.