Call for vigilance over moor fire

The fire at Trendlebere Down destroyed about 15 acres

Police and moor rangers have asked people to be vigilant after a large part of a popular Dartmoor beauty spot was destroyed in an arson attack.

About 15 acres (six hectares) were affected by the fire on Trendlebere Down on Sunday night.

Devon and Cornwall police warned that after the recent spell of dry weather such attacks meant fires could spread quickly and easily claim a life.

They said no-one had died as a result of such a fire in the region yet.

Pc Sharon Newman said: "We have been so fortunate in Devon and Cornwall when we have had these types of fires because we have not had anybody injured.

Wildlife on the Down had been recovering from the 1997 fire

"But it is only a matter of time before somebody setting these fires is injured, or someone is actually caught in the middle. This fire spread quickly."

About 300 acres (120 hectares) of heathland around the Down near Bovey Tracey was engulfed by flames when a fire started in April 1997, destroying about 80% of its wildlife.

Since then, management plans co-ordinated by English Nature have led to the re-growth of vital habitats which were lost.

Moor rangers said it was a "particularly devastating attack" and that certain plant-life and animals, such as ground-nesting birds, were vulnerable in these incidents.

Rob Steemson, of the Dartmoor National Park Authority, said: "The fire went into the peat, which worries us a little bit, because the area underneath the gorse had heather coming through.

"There are also skylarks and stonechats in this particular site.

"We're just asking people to be really observant. The moor is very vulnerable."