Video: ‘Careless cigarette’ sets field on fire next to North Devon attraction

Traffic slowed to a crawl on the A39 near Bideford this lunchtime after flames erupted in one of the festival field belong to The BIG Sheep tourist attraction.

The bone dry shrubland quickly caught fire and BIG Sheep director Rick Turner believes a carelessly discarded cigarette butt from the window of a car passing over the Kenwith Viaduct likely started the blaze.

There were heavy traffic queues for a time but fire fighters from Bideford and Torrington were soon on scene and put out the flames by hosing them from the bridge above.

Above: Attraction staff brought a water bowser to try and tackle the blaze before the fire service arrived. Credit: The BIG Sheep

The fire service said it had received a high volume of calls about the blaze and the Bideford crew arrived first on scene, quickly requesting backup from Torrington, with hose reel jets used to extinguish the flames.

Mr Turner said the field, which the attraction uses to host its music festivals, also had sheep in it at the time.

He said: “The local fire brigade were super quick on the scene and averted what could have been a major fire, which as everywhere is so hot and dry could have spread to nearby woodland and threatened houses as well as our advertising boarding.

“The BIG Sheep team were also on the scene with water bowsers and using the quad bike to carry water before the fire brigade turned up on the scene - I would also like to thank the motorists who immediately reported the fire to us - that was a key.”

While traffic was heavy for a time, it is understood to be easing now.