Fire crews in Exeter spent Tuesday afternoon battling a large grass fire at Mincinglake Valley Park as hot and dry conditions continued to grip the region.
Smoke was seen rising over the city after the fire broke out in the Beacon Heath area shortly before 3pm. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service urged people to stay away from the scene.
"The incident has been sectorised, and crews are working to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading any further," the service said in a statement. "Local residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed. Please avoid the area to allow our crews to work on bringing the fire under control."
Devon Wildlife Trust also issued a warning. "Our immediate priority is the safety of people at the site and supporting the official response. We ask people to avoid the area and follow advice from the emergency services," the trust said.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. The blaze came as nearly three-quarters of England is now in drought status after the country saw its driest July in 190 years. August has so far seen just five per cent of the expected rainfall for the month, with warnings of more dry weather and highs of 36C to follow this week.
Officials from the National Drought Group assessed on Monday that 45 million people are now in affected areas. The East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs all moved into drought status.
In a separate incident, fire crews tackled several blazes near Exeter airport after a forested area caught fire on Tuesday afternoon. Multiple crews responded in Cranbrook, where a row of conifer trees and 10 square metres of standing crops caught fire. The fire service said attending crews had requested backup from two additional fire engines pulled in from other areas.
"Crew are currently dealing with approximately 50m of Conifer trees that are on fire. Crew are working with hose reel jets and beaters to try and extinguish the fire," they said in a statement.
Large fire breaks out in Exeter park sending smoke across city