FIREFIGHTERS from Cornwall were drafted in to help tackle a major gorse fire on Dartmoor spanning up to 6km across yesterday.
The blaze covered around 600 acres near Chat Tor and Lydford in the north west of the national park and was being fanned by strong winds, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said.
Twelve fire crews including more than 100 firefighters were aided by local "commoners", who live and work on the moor, in attempting to control the fire using beaters, a spokesman said.
The fire broke out at around 1.30pm yesterday and fire crews were finally withdrawn from the moor at around 7.20pm.
Fire crews say the possibility remains of hotspots being reignited, but Dartmoor Rangers will revisit to check the area today. The cause was accidental, the incident has been handed over to the Dartmoor Rangers.
