TWO 11-year-old boys have been praised by firefighters for their prompt actions which helped to prevent a serious fire.

On Sunday, June 24 at about 3.30pm, the two boys, Finlay Stanton and Nathan Saunders, whilst playing outside at New Buildings near Crediton, said they could smell smoke and ran to the remote farmland location.

On arrival Nathan and Finlay discovered a bird scarer had ignited an area of cornfield, grassland and hedgerow at Sandford Ash, New Buildings and quickly ran to alert Nathan’s mother, Steph, who telephoned Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue.

Fire crews from Crediton, Witheridge and Exeter were quickly on the scene at the remote location.

On arrival the crews found that the fire had spread to hedging and a nearby silage pit.

Plastic sheeting and tyres on the top of the silage pit were also on fire.

A huge black cloud of smoke could be seen from many miles away from the burning tyres.

Firefighters used water and compressed foam to fight the fire and beaters to help put out some of the grassland on fire.

Some farm machinery was also involved in the fire.

Neil Hargreaves, Watch Manager, Crediton Fire Station, praised the boys who discovered the fire.

Speaking at the scene he told them: “Thank you for running home to call the fire service.

“You helped to prevent a much more serious fire from developing.

“We were able to get here and bring the fire under control before it spread to the corn field thanks to you calling us quickly.

“The farmer will be really pleased at what you have done.”

Farmer Peter Cleverdon, who farms Sandford Ash with his parents Austin and Gwen, said: “I would like to thank the lads who ran up to have a look and Steph who raised the alarm.

“I would also like to thank the fire service for their prompt action.

“I would also like to thank Alan Isaac who came to the farm to let us know about the fire.”

Mr Hargreaves told the “Courier”: “It was hard work in very hot conditions but our crews worked hard to fight the fire quickly and efficiently and we were able to put the fire out just before our water supplies depleted.

“A water bowser from Exeter arrived just in time and we have now got the fire out but need to damp down and make checks.”

He confirmed that compressed air foam was used to put out the tyres on fire on the silage pit.

A fire service 4x4 vehicle from Middlemoor, Exeter also attended.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said that the fire, involving 20 metres by 30 metres of field, scrubland and adjacent silage and tyres, was put out using three hose reel jets, two compressed air foam jets and beaters. A thermal imaging camera was used to check for hot spots.

No-one was injured and care of the scene was left with the farmer after the fire had been put out.

The Crediton crew returned to the scene at 9.30pm that evening to check the fire was out.