Warning after fire on moor.

(From Western Daily Press)

Officials warned today that one disarded cigarette could set off a life-threatening inferno in the Dartmoor National Park.

Park spokesman John Weir said a lack of rain had left vegetation on the moor extremely dry.

Mr Weir was speaking as firemen tackled a gorse blaze on Roborough Down yesterday afternoon which spread across about an acre.

Devon Fire and Rescue said firebreaks had been created in the area and firefighters let the blaze burn itself out.

The cause of the fire, which started at just after 2pm, was not yet known, a spokesman said.

Mr Weir said: "A discarded cigarette butt could …