Fire tore through acres of a popular Exeter beauty spot on Tuesday, forcing some residents to leave their homes and others to keep windows and doors shut while crews from two counties worked to control the flames.
The fire service received multiple calls on Tuesday afternoon reporting a grassfire in Mincinglake Valley Park, Beacon Heath, a spot popular with dog walkers and nature lovers. Firefighters from 20 stations across Devon and Somerset were sent to tackle the wildfire.
The blaze has now been contained, but it has destroyed an area roughly the size of 30 football pitches, about 50 acres of grassland.
Axminster firefighters were among the 20 crews that responded on Tuesday and remain on site overnight as efforts continue to extinguish the flames. An Axminster Fire Station spokesperson said: “With the ability to change over crew, Axminster remains at this incident with a refreshed crew. The fire is now contained within the area of Mincinglake Valley. The fire has affected an area of about 50 acres and at the height of this incident there were 20 fire engines as well as a number of specialist vehicles.”
Liz Pole, Exeter city councillor for the Mincinglake area, said homes on the Stoke Hill side of the park were evacuated. A field opposite Pendragon Road, in Beacon Heath, was now “cinder ash.”
Councillor Pole said neighbours had been supervised to help dampen embers in the valley park. She said: “I spoke earlier to a resident who had discovered the fire, when it was at an early stage, returning towards Mile Lane from the brook. He had tried to stamp it out, but it was too hot.”
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said fire control received a high volume of calls reporting a grassfire with multiple outbreaks in Mincinglake Valley Park. Specialist vehicles, firefighting equipment, a water bowser, and 20 fire engines from across two counties were sent to the scene to stop the fire spreading.
Smoke from the blaze could be seen from as far away as Haldon Hill. Several homes at risk from the flames were evacuated, and residents living near the valley park have been warned to keep doors and windows closed against the smoke.
Exeter wildfire ‘now contained’ as firefighters’ efforts continue overnight at Mincinglake Valley Park