FIRE crews were called to a plant nursery in the Starcross area yesterday, Wednesday, July 9, following reports of a polytunnel catching fire.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said it was ‘inundated with calls from members of the public’ who, observing from different locations, all reported seeing large plumes of smoke in the area.

Fortunately, the first of the many calls, which came in at around 2pm, was from staff at a plant nursery, where a polytunnel had caught fire with, an adjacent one at risk of catching fire too.

Two pumps from Dawlish and one from Exeter were dispatched initially, before being joined by a third from Teignmouth and a water carrier from Danes Castle Fire Station.

‘The fire quickly spread to the adjacent polytunnel and crews worked well to contain it and prevent it from spreading any further’, a spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said.

‘The polytunnels are being used for storage of furniture and gas cylinders so extra precaution is being taken for the cylinders involved due to the risk of them overheating and exploding’, the spokesperson added.

Crews extinguished the fire using four breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets.

There were no casualties.