A FIRE engine from the Holsworthy station attended a fire at Dunsland Wood, Brandis Corner, on Wednesday, February 7, after a local resident was woken by a car alarm.

Fire control received the call at 3.21am and subsequently found that the alarm was coming from an abandoned 4x4 vehicle, which had been set alight — the vehicle was later connected to a burglary that took place earlier that day.

On arrival crews confirmed this and set to work using small tools, with two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and a concentrated foam jet to put out the fire.

At about quarter to three in the morning fire control notified the Environment Agency that foam was being used to extinguish the fire but that they were unable at this time to establish the quantity and whether there would be any environmental impact from this process.

Just after 4am the crew on scene confirmed that there was no longer a need for the use of breathing apparatus and that the police had attended the incident.

Twenty minutes later crews confirmed that the quantity of foam used was small and that it had had no environmental impacts. The vehicle had been 100% damaged by the fire.

The fire crew stated that it was ‘a stolen vehicle, maliciously set light to and abandoned’.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police are investigating reports of a burglary and arson in Holsworthy.

“Officers were notified to a 4x4 on fire in a lane on Brandis Corner in Holsworthy at around 3.30am. Fire services were also called.

“Units attended BP Bodyworks on Dunsland Cross after a burglary had taken place in which the 4x4 had been stolen. The premises had been broken into and a mobile phone, a safe and a laptop were also stolen.

“This is currently under investigation and enquiries are ongoing.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact [email protected] or by calling 101 quoting CR/011327/18.