Four fire engines attended a fire in a small outbuilding a mile from the Sportsman pub on the way to Totnes Cross from Dartmouth.

The Dartmouth Fire Service was called to the report of a workshop on fire, early on Wednesday evening, September 20th. A fire engine from Dartmouth, and one from Totnes and Kingsbridge, all went to the fire. Also, a four wheel drive vehicle from Dartmouth attended, as the fire was off the main road down a poorly-made, narrow track to an outbuilding near two wooden houses. A further fire engine was called from Brixham to help.

The fire was inside a single-storey, wooden workshop, approximately 15metres by 12metres in foot-print. It was used for carpentry.

Smoke and flames issued from the building when the crews arrived. Crews at the scene needed breathing apparatus in order to work and used thermal imaging to check the building. An ambulance was requested for one man suffering from shock and smoke inhalation, although fire crews treated the casualty with oxygen.

The fire was severe on ground floor of the workshop and spread to roof void. When the fire was extinguished, half the building was severely damaged by fire. The remainder of the building was damaged by heat, although, aside from the windows, little damage could be seen from the outside.

Two casualties were treated by ambulance crew for smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.