Dartmoor fire seen for 20 MILES as firefighters battled ‘5km-wide’ blaze and public told ‘stay away’

AN "EXTREMELY dangerous" blaze in Dartmoor could be seen for 20 miles as it turned the sky bright red overnight.

Emergency crews warned the public to stay away from the fire as they battled the 5km-wide flames.

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The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said it last night deployed five pumps and other units but struggled to tackle the fire due to its location.

People could see the blaze from about 20 miles (32km) away in Plymouth on Thursday evening as the flames lit up the night sky.

Crews remained in place overnight but were forced to wait until daylight returned fully this morning to assess the situation.

This morning they said the blaze had "no significant fire spread" by 6.30am on Friday and firefighters were maintaining a watching brief "from various vantage points".

The blaze was reported near Tavy Cleave, a few miles north-east of Tavistock and was estimated to be more than three miles (5km) wide at its peak.

It's a mystery how the fire started, given the recent bad weather which have made heaths and undergrowth soaking wet.

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Pictures on social media showed a large stretching blaze which has illuminated the night sky.

Social media users said the blaze could be seen from parts of Cornwall.

'STAY AWAY'

Rob Steemson, Dartmoor National Park emergency officer, said the blaze had been pushed further across the moorland by strong winds.

A spokesman for the service last night said: "Crews remain at the scene, watching and containing the fire.

"We will assess how to proceed when daylight returns, when there is more visibility and firefighting can continue."

The fire service tweeted overnight that people had arrived nearby to "get a glimpse/photo of the fire", and pictures have been shared on social media.

"This is extremely dangerous and certainly not an essential journey. Please stay away from the area for your own safety," it said.

The fire was on a remote stretch of the moorland and no residents or animals have been injured, according to reports.

Meanwhile in a flames raged this morning on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.

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And on Tuesday night fire swept across acres of heathland at 111-hecare Rosenannon Downs nature reserve near Bodmin.

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Arson is now being suspected by locals who believe the three fires are linked.

Tuesday's blaze on Rosenannon Downs nature reserve was almost a year to the day after a similar mysterious inferno at the same spot, on February 8, 2020.

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