Concerns are growing over a suspected pattern of deliberate fires on Exmoor after another blaze drew emergency crews away from surrounding communities.
Three fire engines were sent to a fire on Ridge Road on the Devon-Somerset border on Thursday, April 16, while high winds were affecting the area.
The latest incident has renewed concerns about pressure on emergency services, with warnings that appliances tied up at moorland fires are then unavailable for potentially life-saving callouts in nearby towns and villages.
James Wright, an Exmoor farmer and campaigner, said he saw the blaze while travelling to a meeting in Dulverton.
James said: “Three fire engines were tied up here, which means they were not available for life saving emergencies in Dulverton, Minehead, or Bampton.
“This is not an isolated event. This has been happening for months. There was even a fire deliberately set on Christmas Day, taking firefighters away from their families to deal with a senseless act of arson.”
He said it was important to distinguish between lawful land management and the incidents that have caused concern.
James said: “It is important to understand that responsible burning is a vital land management tool that is not done enough, but this is absolutely not what this is.
“These are deliberate acts that ignore safety and common sense. There are clearly an individual or individuals responsible for repeatedly setting these fires, and they must be caught before someone is hurt.”
A white Transit tipper truck was reportedly seen near Ridge Road around the time the fire was set.
Police have been notified and residents and visitors are being urged to stay alert and report any suspicious activity.
The concern is that any further incidents could place more strain on fire crews serving the wider Exmoor area.
