AROUND 200 tonnes of stacked timber caught fire in Martock during the early hours of this morning (November 27).

Seven fire engines, from Martock, Yeovil, Ilminster, Crewkerne, Somerton, Castle Cary and Chard, together with a command support unit from Street, and water carrier and aerial ladder platform from Yeovil, attended the incident around 6am.

The blaze, on a farm in Martock, involved 200 tonnes of timber in an area measuring 50m x 8m.

Numerous residents called the fire service as they could see large amounts of smoke in the area.

"This was a protracted incident with crews firefighting for hours, making good and steady progress extinguishing and preventing the fire from spreading to adjacent outbuildings," said a spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

"Eventually, we brought the incident under control at 12.50pm.

"In total crews used two hose reel jets, two compressed air foam jets, three main jets assisted by an aerial ladder platform to extinguish the fire, which started accidentally.

"The fire was contained to the timber pile only and there were no injuries.

"This incident is now complete and all crews have come away from incident ground."