Pictures show devastating damage caused by disposable BBQ at Devon beauty spot

It took dozens of firefighters FOUR days to extinguish

These dramatic pictures show the devastation caused by a disposable barbecue at a Devon beauty spot.

The incident at Kingswear in South Devon took dozens of firefighters four days to completely extinguish.

Fire crews were first called to the scene on Saturday, May 23 after reports of huge plumes of smoke from an area of woodland overlooking the sea.  A helicopter was even used to dump water on the blaze from above.

It was sparked by people having a barbecue, prompting a major warning from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. The service said it had attended 244 fires in the open during one week in the middle of May.

A spokesman said: “With the recent warm and dry weather, there is a significant risk of wildfires – fires in the open on moorland, commons, and grass. In the last week, we have attended 244 fires in the open – whilst last year the maximum we would have attended is 100 incidents a week.

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“In April 2017 more than 200 firefighters and a quarter of all our fleet (more than 30 fire engines) attended a large fire at Woodbury Common which left firefighters with burns.

“Wildfires can start and spread very easily and can be caused by discarded cigarettes, disposable BBQs left hot, and glass bottles in the sunlight.”

All pictures courtesy of Brixham Fire Station.