Black smoke as firefighters tackle large shed fire

Firefighters are tackling a "significant fire" at a warehouse unit.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said six appliances and an aerial ladder platform had responded to the blaze at the Jolly Roger on St Johns Lane, Bovey Tracey.

Ben Williams, group commander said 10 appliances and specialist vehicles were being used to deal with the fire.

The A382 has been closed in both direction, according to traffic monitoring website Inrix and the fire service said police were in attendance to assist with traffic management.

Nearby residents said they saw large clouds of black smoke, and heard loud bangs and had been advised by the fire service to keep their windows and doors closed.

Williams said they were called out shortly before 13:00 BST.

He said: "When crews arrived... they were faced with quite a significant fire that was still in the developing phase.

"We dispatched significant resources, up to 10 pumping appliances plus some additional specialist appliances to come and deal with this."

Williams said there were no injuries but there were some road closures and they had asked people to close their windows and doors as a result of "significant smoke plumes".

Of the explosions heard by neighbours, he said it was often caused when "things like tyres pop, there were some vehicles involved".

Williams said: "There's no significant explosion risk and we don't believe an explosion has led to this fire."

He said there was "significant damage" and further investigations would take place to ascertain the full extent of the damage and the cause of the fire.

Lauren, a Bovey Tracey resident, said: "We were just going out for lunch and... heard five massive bangs and within seconds the whole sky was just thick black smoke.

"The landlady was out with the owner on a trip out onto the moors and they saw the smoke from the moors, that's how far you could see it."

South Dartmoor Community College said due to the A382 being closed in both directions its Moretonhampstead bus service would be diverting via an alternative route.

It warned parents that students could arrive home later than expected due to the diversion taking 15 to 30 minutes longer.

It said its Bovey Tracey services were also aware of the closure but were more likely to be affected by increased traffic in the area, which could also result in some delays.

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