More than 10 firecrews were called to the gorse fire

Two Devon Fire and Rescue personnel were suffering from heat exhaustion.

A further eight were flown off Dartmoor by police helicopter for their own safety.

The helicopter also flew senior fire officers over the scene to evaluate the extent of the blaze.

Environmental damage

At one stage, more than 10 fire appliances were at the scene of the fire, which broke out on the southern area of the moor on Wednesday morning.

Walkers were warned to stay away from the flames, which at one stage were raging along a four-mile front.

Ramblers were being warned to stay off the moor in the area of Cadover Bridge, Gutter Tor and Burrator, said police.

Officers went to Sheepstor to warn a group of walkers who were heading towards the blaze to look at the flames, said the force spokesman, adding that some roads were closed.

A Devon Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said that personnel were still fighting the fire, but they were scaling down.

Dartmoor National Park head ranger Robert Steemson said he would not be able to evaluate the environmental damage until the fire was out.

Mr Steemson said an area of 14 square miles had so far been affected by the fire.

Local farmers and park rangers helped firemen tackle the flames.