FIVE acres of Dartmoor were affected when a controlled burning exercise over-reached itself at the heart of the national park.

The large fire was fanned by strong winds during the faulty swaling operation at Headland Warren a few miles out of North Bovey.

Two pumps from Moretonhampstead and Bovey Tracey answered the 999 shout at 4pm on Tuesday, March 15.

An off-road fire vehicle from Bovey Tracey was also drafted in to help extinguish the heathland blaze.

A specialist ‘fogging’ unit was deployed to fine spray large areas of the fire.