INQUIRIES are underway to establish whether a fire which destroyed two community minibuses in Dawlish earlier today was suspicious. 

Police say they are aware of the fire which destroyed Dawlish Community Transport’s buses.

In a response, a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: ‘We are aware of a fire at Barton car park that has destroyed and damaged numerous minibuses.

‘We await further guidance from the fire investigator over possible causes of this fire and if this will be a police-led matter.’

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 quoting log number 77 Friday 14 July.

Fire crews were alerted to numerous calls to vehicles on fire in Barton car park in the early hours. 

Firefighters from Dawlish station were sent to the scene at Barton Hill where two vehicles, understood to belong to Dawlish Community Transport, were well alight. 

Neighbours and nearby residents had already seen the flames coming from the two vehicles.

When the Dawlish fire crew arrived, they asked for further help.

Crews confirmed a number of vehicles well alight and were at work with two firefighters using breathing apparatus, a compressed air foam jet/

A thermal imaging camera was also used to extinguish the fire. 

When the fire was extinguished, crews were able to confirm that two mini buses had been totally damaged by fire and a further three vehicles had  suffered substantial damage by heat and fire and another vehicle had sustained about 10 per cent heat damage.

A fire service spokesman said: ‘At this time the cause of the fire is undetermined.’