FIRE crews from six stations were last Wednesday called to stop a fire from spreading and causing extensive damage to an area of scrub land near Postbridge. Firefighters were called to the scene in Bellever Forest at 5.30pm on April 11, after reports of smoke and fire coming from land behind the youth hostel in Postbridge. This week the fire service said that the possibility of arson has not been ruled out. They found scrub and remains of tree cuttings were alight, which had spread to more than 60 square metres of forestry land. Crews from Princetown, Yelverton and Moretonhampstead, supported by firefighters from Bovey Tracey, Plympton and Ivybridge, attended the scene to contain the fire, which had been fanned by heavy winds. Their efforts ensured it stopped spreading in the dry weather and causing further damage. John Webber, Princetown crew manager, said: 'The fire was deep seated and required further attention by our fire crew throughout the night and the next morning.' He said once the fire brigade had done its work the area was left in the hands of the Forestry Commission to dig out and make safe. Mr Webber told the Times: 'At this time arson has not been ruled out. The Arson Task Force are investigating the incident.' l ARSON has also not been ruled out after fire quickly spread through gorse on Roborough Down near Clearbrook last Thursday afternoon. About 25 firefighters using hosepipes, supplied by a water bowser, and beaters fought to contain the blaze which engulfed more than 2,000 square metres of moorland. The initial crew from Crownhill fire station called for assistance and two appliances from Camel's Head in Plymouth and Plympton, along with the water bowser, and an incident command vehicle. Group manager Clive Bartlett said: 'The cause of the fire is still under investigation. There have been other incidents of this type around the Clearbrook area recently but this has not been linked with them.' Light winds and the fact that the fire was going towards short, green grass helped the firefighters to contain the fire, although dry gorse was burning fiercely. Mr Bartlett appealed to the public to help prevent such fires flaring up. He warned fires should not be lit on the moor and said people should be careful when disposing of cigarettes.
