Gorse fires rage on Exmoor (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Gorse fires rage on Exmoor

11:44pm Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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FIREFIGHTERS tackled two heath fires on Exmoor this evening including one at Withypool near Dulverton which officers believe was started deliberately.

Crews from Dulverton, Bampton and Lynton were sent to the blaze on Withypool Common about 7.45pm where they found several pockets of gorse on fire.

Firefighters used beaters and two hose reel jets while awaiting the arrival of more specialised equipment.

Damage was cause to about ten acres of grass and gorse land.

In the Rodhuish Common/Withycombe area, crews from Williton, Bridgwater, Minehead, Dulverton, Nether Stowey, Porlock and Street dealt with a fire stretching for 400 metres.

Approximately 12 acres of heath land was damaged as a result of swaling – intentional clearing of gorse – got out of control.

This afternoon there were similar incidents at Widecombe in the Moor on Dartmoor, the Dartmeet area near Princetown on Dartmoor and at Challcombe Valley, Postbridge.

At lunchtime there was a grass fire at Wearyall Hill, Street.