A fire engine was destroyed at a barn blaze in Tavistock.
The £200,000 piece of equipment was left in tatters after it was engulfed when flaming diesel came pouring towards it.
The drama unfolded in the early hours of Sunday morning at a workshop in Collaton Lane. Yesterday morning fire investigation teams began examining the scene.
Wayne Rawlins, the fire officer in charge of the operation, said: "We have now allowed eight people from two nearby houses who were evacuated back into their homes. "The fire investigators are here to establish what caused the fire and to investigate what happened to our appliance."
While they were battling the blaze, a diesel tank ruptured sending burning fuel pouring towards the crew and the fire engines. The firefighters managed to move two other fire engines away in time.
The 15 tonne piece of kit is thought to be around 10 years old.
It was one of two appliances based at Tavistock station.
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