ONE sheepdog puppy survived as four others perished in a Bovey Tracey barn blaze.

Four fire crews rushed to a farm at Hatherleigh Lane where a lean-to attached to the barn caught alight.

Inside was a litter of five eyes-closed puppies born just 48 hours earlier to mum Meg who escaped the flames.

The farmer managed to rescue two pups - but three others were not so lucky in Monday afternoon’s drama.

One of the tiny survivors – revived at the scene with newly-issued oxygen masks carried by the Newton Abbot crew – has since died from its burns.

Fire spokesman Rob Barr said: ‘Both those rescued were given oxygen at the same time from the larger of the two masks carried.’

He revealed that the cause of the blaze was probably a heat lamp to keep the new-borns warm in their first hours of life.

It appears the lamp may have been knocked over and ignited straw bedding.

Firefighters from Bovey Tracey, Moretonhampstead, Torquay and Newton Abbot dealt with the incident after the alarm was raised at 2.40pm.

One of the rescued pups, that has since died, suffered burns to the belly which was soothed at the scene by firefighters applying a burns gel. Both pups were treated by a local vet.

The sole survivor has been named Blaze to mark his miraculous escape.

Four sets of breathing gear were worn by firefighters to stop the flames spreading to the barn, measuring 5m x 4m.

Three hosereel jets, ladders and a thermal imaging camera were also used to tackle the fire.

SAVED...the pair of rescued puppies receive oxygen treatment after their blazing barn ordeal.

SAFE...one of the two surviving puppies from the barn fire which killed three others.