FIREFIGHTERS from Newton Abbot tackled two incidents involving grass and woodland fires.

Crews were alerted to deal with the outbreaks, the first of which came from the Hele Park area of Newton Abbot.

Reports came in of a fire at the location where, on arrival, they established the fire was coming from a field behind a building site.

A spokesman for the station said the fire had started from sparks which had spread to the field as a result of work on the site.

Quick-thinking actions of building site staff had seen them go into the field with water and shovels which they had used as beaters.

Newton Abbot crews used a hose reel jet and a whole tank of 1,800 litres of water to ensure the whole area had been completely saturated to stop re-ignition of the fire.

Later that day, one crew was sent to deal with another incident in Stokeinteignhead.

Reports had come in of an orchard on fire which was rapidly spreading towards a house.

When the first crew arrived, they discovered about 500 square metres of orchard was well alight.

The incident commander then asked for three more appliances to attend as well as a water bower which carried 9,000 litres of water.

Once on the scene, crews from Newton Abbot were asked to head to the orchard and helped with using two main attack jets as well as multiple beaters to bring the fire under control.

A Newton Abbot fire station spokesman said: ‘Thankfully the property was unaffected and the fire was limited to the orchard. Crews would also like to thank the small local shop owner opposite the Church House Inn pub who supplied the crews with cold drinks which were much needed and greatly appreciated.’