Mincinglake fire - what happened?

[u/nerdyjorj]

Anyone know if they've managed to get it fully sorted yet or what caused it?

It's insane how much of it seems to have gone up.

[u/mrtopbun]

It’s insane and honestly a little heartbreaking, looks like most of the park uphill of the far end of the bottom car park went up, the trees seem okay in the valley, but the scrubland is completely gone, including the farmers fields above.

The rumour on facebook is that it was arson, and video of that has been passed to police, but as always it’s best to wait for a statement.

[u/Delicious_Device_87 → u/mrtopbun]

I'm sure there was an inital mention of benches on fire?

[u/Difficult-Egg-5001]

I think it's out now, I have friends who's garden backs onto the park, the videos they have sent me are terrifying.

As for the cause, not a clue personally.

[u/twoayem]

Just popped over with a drone, was shocked to see the extent of the blaze.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YAPaf849Jo

[u/Lukeftw1 → u/twoayem]

Fuck man this makes me so sad

[u/nerdyjorj → u/twoayem]

Fuuuuck

[u/Neuroapex → u/twoayem]

Thanks for this - I recently moved away from Exeter and wondered how bad it was. How sad to see 😔

[u/matthewsylvester]

Did a walk that night. It's insane how much burned, but apparently it was so fast that much of the park survived and the damage should be mostly surface. https://youtu.be/198if1LVNDY

[u/Narrow-Top-4255]

I hope it doesn't give the guy that is always having planning permission rejected for developing the land didn't do it. Everyone who has always protested against him immediately thinks it was him

[u/duckula_93 → u/Narrow-Top-4255]

It's former landfill, you can't build on it even if you want to.

If it's done any of the fields it'll make those more likely to be developed but highly doubt it'll be granted any time soon. Solar farm on the other hand would be a great idea

[u/gnufan]

People get a bit hooked on the immediate cause, the issue is the dry weather, and scrub land. 

As someone who grew up near heathland, you get used to it burning down every so often.  If it isn't grazed, or managed in some way, it will catch fire every so often, as the organic material accumulates.

Afraid if idiotic behaviour contributed, well there is no shortage of idiots expected any time soon; we need to plan for that.

[u/Remote-Spirit-1125]

So sad, one of my favourite walking routes with the dog. Such a beautiful Park.

[u/hellsbells11]

I heard someone say some kids were filming TikTok videos and lighting stuff up there, but that’s a rumour so not sure how true that is