FIRE crews took almost four hours to put out a blaze that damaged four acres of grassland on the edge of Exmoor on Saturday, after having to walk on tracks to reach the area, and using special all terrain equipment.

A Groundhog, a specialist vehicle with a pump on its back that can access moorland, attended from Porlock, at Little Tom’s Hill, towards Challacombe, along with appliances from Lynton, South Molton, Hartland, Porlock and Bridgwater.

A water bowser brought more water, and crews also used beaters and compressed air foam to stop the fire escalating, after it spread quickly.

The crews started working on the fire at 2.20pm, and by 6pm they had put out the main bulk of the fire, and continued after that to damp down hotspots.