Firefighters and ambulance crews faced dangerous asbestos contamination as they fought a fire in Devon last night which has been blamed on arsonists.

Two fire engines from Dawlish and Teignmouth were sent to the blaze in Old Teignmouth Road, Dawlish, just after 9.30pm on Monday after reports that a timber-framed building was on fire. A spokesman said.

“On arrival crews confirmed one building to be well alight and got to work extinguishing the fire using two breathing apparatus and one jet.

Crew found there to be an asbestos roof involved in the fire so they used face masks and decontamination was being set up. Fire control informed the nearest hazardous officer of the incident for advice and support.”

The spokesman said the fire was out an hour later. Half of the building and roof was damaged in the fire.

He added that the cause of the fire “was deliberate”.