THREE fire engines from Bovey Tracey, Danes Castle and Middlemoor were called in to deal with a fire at a Commercial Woodstore at Doddiscombsleigh in the early hours of the morning today (Monday)

The Incident Support Unit, from Bovey Tracey, was also mobilised to reports of a large number of tall flames coming from a building within a wooded area along Perry Lane.

A spokesperson for the Devopn and Somerset Fire and Rescue service reports: ‘As the first crew got closer to the incident they requested a fourth fire engine be mobilised to assist due to the height and ferocity of the flames, this was mobilised from Danes Castle.

‘Two water foam carriers were then requested. One was mobilised from Danes Castle and the second from Torquay.’

Timeline:

3.37am – One large wood store with biomass unit attached well alight. 

Building is approximately 10m x 25m in size. Safety measures being put into place as it is suspected that cylinders may be involved in the fire. Crews have two main jets and two hose reel jets in use, pumping from open water.

4.13am – Two cylinders, believed to be inert, are being monitored and cooled. 

4.53am – Four main jets and two hose reels jets still in use. Thermal image camera and small tools also being used. Fire has been surrounded and is being dampened down. 

6.47am – Crews are damping down the fire. Incident has now been reduced to two appliances plus a welfare unit. Crews are likely to remain on scene well into the day.