A CREDITON business was today, Saturday, June 15, recovering after what it described as a "significant fire".
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the blaze at 9.29pm last night, Friday, June 14.
On arrival, crews confirmed that smoke and flames were issuing from a building measuring approximately 30 metres by 25 metres by 18 metres high and requested five additional fire engines, with the building and roof well alight.
At 9.52pm the Officer in Charge requested the attendance of the High Volume Pump from Exeter and at 9.57pm, requested another four fire engines, making a total of 12.
He requested a second aerial ladder platform to attend as the fire was starting to spread to the remainder of the building.
Fire engines, specialist appliances and officers from the following stations atttended: Crediton, Danes Castle and Middlemoor in Exeter, Topsham, North Tawton, Tiverton, Witheridge, Honiton, Ivybridge, Bovey Tracey, Okehampton, Chagford, Chulmleigh, Torquay and the High Volume Pump from the Urban Search and Rescue based at the Fire Service HQ.
In a statement issued this afternoon (Saturday), Crediton Milling Company said: "Unfortunately we have experienced a significant fire at our facility in Crediton.
"We are currently assessing the damage caused and working with the authorities to establish the cause of the fire.
"Thankfully nobody was injured during the incident.
"We would like to thank the emergency services for their response and actions.
"Please rest assured, our team and customers are our main priority."
Earlier this morning, Sarah Allen, area manager and incident commander for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The fire happened in a mill which produces animal feed.
"Although it is subject to an investigation, it appears to have been an electrical fault.
"It was a fire in the centre of the production facility. It burnt upwards creating a hole in the roof.
"Our officers have contained the fire and are working to get rid of any hot-spots and are making sure it hasn’t spread to other parts by using thermal imaging cameras."
It was just before midnight that the fire was declared to be under control.
Roads in the area were closed at Fordton with police officers in attendance.
An ambulance crew was on standby at the scene during the incident.
Local residents were advised to keep doors and windows closed at the height of the blaze due to smoke.
Flames could be seen by many residents in the Crediton area during some of the night.
Some fire crews were still at the scene at 4pm today, Saturday.