AN ARSONIST was thought to be at work on the edge of Exmoor as firefighters tackled their fourth suspicious heathland blaze in a week.

Fire crews were called from five different stations to attend Molland Common shortly after midday on Sunday (March 16) when heath and moorland was reported to be ablaze.

An arsonist could be at work after a blaze on Molland Common became the fourth in the area in a week. PHOTO: DSFR.
An arsonist could be at work after a blaze on Molland Common became the fourth in the area in a week. PHOTO: DSFR. ( )

About 37 acres of the moor caught alight as flames were driven by strong winds.

Fire crews were mobilised from Dulverton and four other stations and had five pumping appliances, a water carrier, an incident command unit, and an all terrain vehicle at the scene.

A week earlier, Wiveliscombe and Dulverton firefighters were among nine crews called to three incidents in two days affecting 80 acres of heathland a few miles away on West Anstey Common.