Cleave Inn fire in Lustleigh now believed accidental

A fire that broke out at The Cleave Inn in Lustleigh last weekend, initially reported by the fire service as being started deliberately, is now understood to have been accidental.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that earlier information provided to the press was incorrect.

In an email to The Moorlander this afternoon, a press officer for the service said:

“Yes, unfortunately this was the incorrect information, and we believe the fire was started accidentally. Apologies again for this mistake.”

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The correction follows Sunday’s incident (October 19), when firefighters from across South Devon spent several hours tackling a blaze that began in a storeroom attached to the thatched pub.

At the time, the service issued a statement to media outlets, including The Moorlander, describing the cause as “believed to be deliberate.”

Crews from Torquay, Ashburton, Bovey Tracey, Buckfastleigh, Chagford, Moretonhampstead, Newton Abbot, Totnes and Middlemoor were called to the scene shortly after 2am. 

Eight appliances were deployed as a precaution due to the building’s thatched roof.

Firefighters managed to prevent the flames from spreading to the main section of the pub, though the attached storeroom was severely damaged.

Pub staff later confirmed that no one was injured and praised the fire service for its rapid response. 

The Cleave Inn temporarily closed following the incident to clean and restock but said it expected to reopen within days.

The small village of Lustleigh, on Dartmoor’s eastern edge, is known for its historic thatched properties and traditional pubs, which often prompt larger emergency callouts due to the high fire risk of thatch construction.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has not provided further detail about the exact cause of the accidental fire but said no further investigation is being pursued.