AN arsonist is believed to have struck again on the edge of Exmoor on Christmas Day when two separate fires broke out on heathland.

They happened on West Anstey Common, which nine months ago was also among the targets of an arsonist believed to have started four fires in the space of a week.

Firefighters from eight stations in Somerset and Devon spent all Christmas afternoon and into the evening battling the first blaze, which was reported shortly before 12.30 pm.

Smoke was seen coming from the ridge of West Anstey Common, and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue (DSFR) mobilised a crew from Dulverton to attend.

The Dulverton firefighting team found on arrival flames were spread across a front nearly 200 feet (60 meters) long and called for back-up.

Six pumps, a water carrier, two all-terrain vehicles, and specialist officers were gradually deployed, with the other crews arriving from Porlock, Wiveliscombe, Lynton, Bampton, Tiverton, Barnstaple, and Torrington.

A DSFR spokesperson said: “Most of us were just dishing up our Christmas dinners.

“All crews worked hard to bring the fire under control and we were all away before dark.

“A reminder over the festive period, we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of what time of year it is.”

Having put out the fire, the last crews were able to leave the scene at about 7 pm.

But they were called back just after 10 pm when DSFR received three reports of fires in the same area.

Crews from Bampton, South Molton, and Tiverton, and a water carrier from Barnstaple, were immediately mobilised.

This time, they found seven different seats of fire in the heath on the common, one of which had spread across nearly 3,230 sq ft (300 sq m) with flames leaping more than three feet high.

The crews worked throughout the night in pairs using the water bowser and fire beaters and it was the early morning of Boxing Day before they had put out the flames.

The DSFR spokesperson said: “This is believed to be deliberate ignition.”

It was a particularly busy time for South Molton firefighters, who also had to deal with another Christmas Day call out and three incidents on Christmas Eve.

In mid-March, firefighters tackled three fires in two days on West Anstey Common and another blaze a few days later on nearby Molland Common, which destroyed a total of more than 100 acres of heathland.

Police were looking for an arsonist at the time but there were no reports of any arrests.