PEOPLE living near a common have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed as firefighters tackle a massive blaze covering a square mile area.

A crew from Dulverton Fire Station were sent to West Anstey Common just before midnight last night (Friday, March 25).

Firefighters were sent to "attend and investigate" due to uncertainty of what was involved.

Once on the scene, they discovered two separate fires on moorland and tried to put them out using beaters and hose reel jets.

But due to the seriousness of the fires, they requested further fire engines, a water bowser, a 4X4 and an all-terrain vehicle.

By 3am the crews were tackling a fire front of burning gorse 800 metres in length and 2 metres high and additional vehicles were requested.

A three pump relief team was sent to assist at 5am.

An hour later crews were still working to extinguish a mile-square area of moorland and a drone team was sent to help.

Attending fire stations were Dulverton, Bampton, South Molton, Porlock, Barnstaple, Lynton, Wellington, Appledore, Witheridge. Middlemoor, as well as the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)