A FIRE that broke out on the roof of Teignmouth’s library is believed to have started accidentally, according to the fire service.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said it received several calls on Sunday afternoon (April 19) reporting flames issuing from the roof of Teignmouth Library.

Crews from Dawlish, Newton Abbot and Torquay, were mobilised, with the latter also bringing its ariel ladder platform to bear.

Firefighters gained entry to the building, while flames were issuing from the roof.

Using three hose reel jets and a 45ml jet, the crew were able to extinguish the fire.

‘The cause of the fire was accidental’, says a spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

Libraries Unlimited, the charity that runs libraries across Devon, says it may have been caused by a battery on the solar panels, though this has not been confirmed.

Teignmouth Library was closed on Monday, April 20, while the damage sustained to the building is assessed.

There is no damage to the inside of the building, the Mid-Devon Advertiser understands.

Elsewhere, there was speculation on social media as to why Teignmouth Fire Station, a stone’s throw from the library, did not mobilise its crew.

The station says it could not respond due to a shortage of available crew.

A spokesperson for the station said: ‘While we always strive to provide a 24/7 response, this isn’t always possible.

‘At times crews may already be committed to another incident or we may not have enough firefighters immediately available to mobilise safely.

‘To attend an incident, we require a minimum crew of four firefighters.

‘This includes a qualified driver and another trained in incident command, along with two trained in breathing apparatus.

‘When this incident was reported, we were one firefighter short of that minimum requirement’.