A fire at a farm in Bishopsteignton damaged a large woodpile and a diesel tank, but was prevented from engulfing a nearby barn containing hay, chickens and machinery.

Fire crews from Teignmouth, Dawlish and Newton Abbot were called out to the incident at Humber at 9.21am on Monday (July 12), along with a water bowser from Torquay.

They found a large pile of woodchips and cut logs well alight, with the fire spreading rapidly because of the heat, dry conditions and wind.

A suspended diesel tank was enveloped by the flames, and the rafters of the barn had also caught alight.

Water jets were used to contain the fire and stop it spreading further into the barn. The landowner helped by spreading the woodchip and log pile apart. A nearby shipping container housing cylinders and small amounts of fuel was affected by the heat but did not go up in flames.

At 7pm a crew from Dawlish fire station revisited the site to turn over the woodchip pile and extinguish any further hotspots.