FOUR fire engines from Williton and Minehead, together with specialist wildfire equipment from Nether Stowey and Williton, tackled a blaze in an area of elephant grass near Stogumber yesterday (Monday).

And Minehead fire station was also mobilised when another fire broke out, this time in gorse on Dunkery Hill and suspected to have been arson.

Numerous members of the public raised the alarm over the first incident, involving eight hectares at Capton Lane, a hamlet near Stogumber, and crews arrived shortly before 6pm. They had the fire under control by 7.25pm.

Appliances remained at the scene to ensure all areas were out. Crews used hose reel jets, main jets, compressed air foam and beaters to extinguish the fire, which was later confirmed to have started accidentally.

In the meantime, two fire appliances from Porlock and Taunton responded to a call from a member of the public reporting an area of gorse on fire at Dunkery Hill.

As the crews got closer to the incident, they were joined by a further pump from Minehead – which had become available from the first incident – together with specialist wildfire equipment, ground hog and Brendan pumps, from Porlock and Minehead.

This was later joined by a fourth fire engine from Minehead, which had also been at the first incident, to assist as the fire spread as a result of high winds.

After making steady progress fighting a 100m fire front, involving a total area of four hectares, this fire was brought under control at 9.45pm. However, a reduced attendance was still there after midnight today (April 18) damping down an area of hotspots which later reignited.

The Dunkery Hill fire was confirmed to have been started deliberately. Crews used the specialist wildfire equipment and beaters to extinguish it.