Firefighters rushed to battle a major grass fire at Mincinglake Valley Park in Exeter on Tuesday afternoon amid severe drought conditions, sending thick smoke across the city as emergency crews worked to bring the blaze under control and urged residents to keep windows and doors closed.
Emergency services responded rapidly on Tuesday as a series of outdoor fires struck across Devon and Somerset during severe dry weather conditions. A large grass fire broke out at Mincinglake Valley Park in the Beacon Heath area of Exeter just before 3pm, drawing a swift response from the Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service.
Mincinglake Valley Park Fire and Urban Green Space Impact
The blaze at Mincinglake Valley Park sent billowing smoke across the city of Exeter while crews worked to contain the flames. Officials confirmed that the incident has been sectorised, and crews are working to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading any further
, according to a statement from the fire and rescue service.
Mincinglake Valley Park is managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust on behalf of Exeter City Council. A spokesperson for the trust noted that staff were on site to assist emergency personnel. They stated: Our immediate priority is the safety of people and supporting the official response. We ask that people to avoid the area until further notice.
The trust acknowledged public concern regarding the impact on the urban green space, adding that it is too early to assess those impacts, but we will do so when the situation is made safe
. Local residents throughout the affected area were advised to keep their windows and doors closed and to steer clear of the park while operations continued.
Concurrent Wildfire Activity Near Exeter Airport and Cranbrook
While crews battled the flames at Mincinglake, firefighters were simultaneously deployed to handle separate blazes near Exeter airport on Tuesday afternoon. Multiple crews rushed to Cranbrook in the early afternoon after a forested area caught fire, tackling several fronts including a row of burning conifer trees and standing crops.
Attending units requested backup from an additional two fire engines pulled in from other areas to manage the spread. The fire service reported that crew are currently dealing with approximately 50m of Conifer trees that are on fire. Crew are working with hose reel jets and beaters to try and extinguish the fire
.
Puriton Hill Grassland Blaze and Commercial Property Damage
Further west in Somerset, emergency responders faced another massive outdoor fire on Puriton Hill near Bridgwater. Fire crews from ten stations arrived after receiving multiple reports of a blaze on August 8, with initial dispatch involving seven appliances from Bovey Tracey, Danes Castle, Clyst St George, Taunton, Bridgwater, Glastonbury, Nether Stowey, Street, Castle Cary, and Cheddar.
Firefighters tackled the flames from both sides using Scotty backpacks, beaters, an all-terrain vehicle, an Argocat, two Rangers fitted with Brendan pumps, and a telehandler to reach difficult terrain. The operation extended late into the evening, with the incident officially declared closed at around 11pm that night.
“This is a commercial property fire in a bin store, minibus and 16 acres of grassland measuring 575 metres by 290 metres. Fire crews using a hose to extinguish the flames.”
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
Authorities confirmed that both the bin store and the minibus sustained complete damage. Investigators determined that the cause is believed to be accidental
.
Drought Conditions and Ongoing Wildfire Risks
The simultaneous outbreaks across Devon and Somerset unfolded against a backdrop of severe environmental stress. Nearly three-quarters of England entered drought status following the driest July in 190 years, while August recorded just five per cent of expected monthly rainfall alongside forecasts reaching 36C.
Similar incidents earlier affected local reserves, such as Barley Valley Park, where approximately 3 acres of grassland, scrub, and woodland were lost before fire crews brought the flames under control. Reserves teams and wildlife trusts continue assessing habitat recovery while urging public vigilance, noting that the risk of wildfires remains exceptionally high across the region.
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