Firefighters attend out-of-control moorland fire on Dartmoor

The fire blazed in the Trendlebere Down area, near Bovey Tracey in Devon

A similar gorsefire burns on Laneast Downs, attended by crews from Launceston Community Fire Station (Launceston Community Fire Station Twitter)

Fire crews have attended an out-of-control moorland blaze in Dartmoor national park in South West England.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said gorse had caught fire and that the blaze was spreading over a number of hectares.

The blaze happened in the Trendlebere Down area, near Bovey Tracey in Devon, the service said.

The fire was attended by full sized fire engines from three different stations, a light appliance from another station, and a water carrier from the major town of Torquay.

“Fire Control received a call reporting a moorland fire out of control on Trendlebere Down. Two appliances from Newton Abbot, one Light 4 wheel drive Pump from Chagford were immediately mobilised to attend the incident,” Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue service said in a statement.

“Appliances from Bovey Tracey and Ashburton are also in attendance following a request for assistance.

“The Water Carrier from Torquay has also been mobilised. Fire crews reported a large gorse fire over several acres with 3 main fire fronts. Crews are using 4x4 vehicles, beaters and hose reel jets on open moorland.”

Gorse fires sometimes get out of control in Dartmoor as a result of landowners burning back scrubland using a traditional process known as “swaling”.

The smoke from the fire was visible from South Devon, residents on social media said.

Another gorse fire over the county border in Cornwall was also attended by crews from Launceston Comunity Fire Station.

The Devon was extinguished late on Wednesday evening.