A suspected arsonist is thought to have targeted heathland on the fringes of Exmoor during Christmas Day, with two distinct blazes erupting at West Anstey Common.
The location was previously struck approximately nine months ago when an individual believed responsible for arson started four separate fires within a single week.
Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue deployed crews from eight stations across both counties to tackle the incidents, which disrupted Christmas celebrations for emergency responders.
The fires broke out on the common’s heathland, requiring firefighters to battle flames throughout the afternoon and well into the evening hours on December 25.
The initial blaze was reported just before 12.30pm in the afternoon, with smoke visible rising from the common’s ridge.
Dulverton’s firefighting crew arrived first to discover flames stretching across a front of nearly 60 metres, prompting an immediate call for reinforcements.
Bampton Fire Station posted on Facebook reporting that five firefighters were mobilised as their Christmas dinners were being plated.
Meanwhile, Wellington Fire Station said it was deployed for the 450th time this year as it supported efforts to deal with the fire.
Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue deployed crews from eight stations across both counties to tackle the incidents, which disrupted Christmas celebrations for emergency responders
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DSFR
A DSFR spokesman said: “Most of us were just dishing up our Christmas dinners.”
The service gradually deployed six pumps, a water carrier, two all-terrain vehicles and specialist officers to the scene.
Additional crews travelled from Porlock, Wiveliscombe, Lynton, Bampton, Tiverton, Barnstaple and Torrington to assist.
By approximately 7pm, the final teams departed after successfully extinguishing the flames.
Firefighters were summoned back shortly after 10pm following three separate reports of fires in the same vicinity.
Crews from Bampton, South Molton and Tiverton responded alongside a water carrier from Barnstaple.
Upon arrival, they discovered seven distinct seats of fire across the heath, with one blaze having spread over approximately 300 square metres with flames exceeding three feet in height.
Working in pairs throughout the night using water bowsers and fire beaters, the teams finally extinguished all flames in the early hours of Boxing Day morning.
The DSFR spokesman said: “DSFRS spent most of Christmas Day dealing with a large heathland fire near West Anstey, Exmoor.
“A crew from Dulverton was mobilised to smoke seen coming from the ridge of West Anstey Common.
“Upon arrival, the crew confirmed a 60 metre fire front and requested a second pump.
“Over time, this was then escalated to six pumps and a water carrier, as well as a number of specialist officers and two ATVs.
“The fire is now believed to have been extinguished and crews have left the scene.”
The crews worked throughout the night to extinguish the blaze, finishing in the early hours of Boxing Day.
The DSFR spokesman added: “This is believed to be deliberate ignition.”
The South Molton crew faced a particularly demanding period, responding to an additional callout on Christmas Day as well as three separate incidents on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day’s suspected arson follows a troubling pattern at the location.
During mid-March, firefighters tackled three blazes over two days at West Anstey Common.
Another inferno broke out days later at the neighbouring Molland Common.
Those earlier incidents destroyed more than 100 acres of heathland in total.
Police launched an investigation into the March fires seeking the person responsible.
However, no arrests have been reported in connection with those attacks.