FIRE crews from across a large area have been battling a large warehouse fire at The Old Well Garden Centre near Uffculme since the early hours of today, Friday, November 1.
The blaze, located at the property off the A38 in Burlescombe, was reported at 1.27 am, prompting an immediate response from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue crew from Tiverton, Cullompton and Taunton.An aerial platform was also dispatched.
Due to the scale of the fire in a large warehouse an extra five fire appliances were dispatched to assist from local stations including Wellington, South Molton, Danes Castle (Exeter), Bampton, Crediton, Honiton, Witheridge, Middlemoor (Exeter), Taunton, Wiveliscombe, Bridgwater and Martock.
Crews have worked tirelessly throughout the night, using hose reel jets, safety jets, and the aerial ladder platform to bring the fire under control.
Although steady progress has been made, firefighters are still at the scene and continue to identify and extinguish remaining hotspots within the structure.
Local residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to the thick smoke spreading from the site.
The A38 that runs alongside the garden centre has remained open in both directions, however, motorists were advised to "approach with care”.
The fire service says that the incident is gradually being scaled down as containment efforts prove effective.
The owners have said on Facebook that the Garden Centre is closed today, Friday.
Further updates as we have them.