ANOTHER series of fires was set last week on heathland on the edge of Exmoor by an arsonist who appears to have been active for more than a year without being caught.

The latest fires occurred beside Ridge Road, Anstey Gate, between West Anstey and Dulverton, shortly after 6 pm on Thursday, April 16.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue (DSFR) sent fire crews from Dulverton, Minehead, and Bampton.

The firefighters found four separate fire fronts, each stretching up to 165 feet across, and used hose reel jets and beaters to put out the flames.

A DSFR spokesperson told the Free Press: “The fires were started deliberately, and the police have been informed.”

The incident was witnessed by Exmoor farmer and political campaigner James Wright, who was driving to a meeting in Dulverton.

Mr Wright said the fires were lit while high winds were sweeping across the moor and warned the pattern of behaviour was ‘a danger to those who live and work in the area’.

He called for people in the area to be extra vigilant and said the incident also highlighted the impact such fires had on the availability of emergency resources for surrounding towns and villages.

Mr Wright said: “Three fire engines were tied up here, which means they were not available for life saving emergencies in Dulverton, Minehead, or Bampton.

“This is not an isolated event.

“This has been happening for months, there was even a fire deliberately set on Christmas Day, taking firefighters away from their families to deal with a senseless act of arson.

“It is important to understand that responsible burning is a vital land management tool that is not done enough, but this is absolutely not what this is.

“These are deliberate acts that ignore safety and common sense.

“There is clearly an individual, or individuals, responsible for repeatedly setting these fires, and they must be caught before somebody is hurt.”

Mr Wright said a white Transit tipper truck was reportedly seen in the vicinity of Ridge Road at about the time the fires were started.

He said: “The police have been notified of the incident.

“Residents and visitors are being asked to remain observant and to report any suspicious activity immediately to help prevent further strain on the region's fire crews.”

The Free Press has approached Devon and Cornwall Constabulary to understand what actions the police are taking to catch the arsonist or arsonists.

The latest arson attacks take the number of such fires in the wider area to 19 in the past 13 months, affecting several hundred acres of moorland.

The arson attacks began in March of last year when there were four fires in a single week on West Anstey and Molland Commons.

The arsonist also struck twice on Christmas Day, which saw firefighters from eight different stations called out.

They then set another six fires in the following week, prompting police to appeal for anybody with information about the crimes to contact them or use the anonymous Crimestoppers service by calling 0800 555111.