More than 70 firefighters from all over South Devon battled from boats, neighbouring houses and cliff edges to try to bring the fire at the large Grade II listed red-brick riverside mansion overlooking Salcombe estuary under control.
Eight pumps from Salcombe, Kingsbridge and Modbury, Totnes, Dartmouth, Ivybridge and Plympton along with an incident command unit and support engine from Totnes all attended the early morning blaze at the Georgian-style two-storey building in Cliff Road.
The fire started at 7.30am and was brought under control early in the afternoon.
It is thought the property, known as Salcombe Court, is split into three apartments with one being used as a holiday home by two families with six children at the time of the incident. Everyone inside the building managed to escape unhurt.
The location of the building, which is not directly accessible by road, meant some fire crews had to be transported by boat to fight the blaze from below.
Paul Chambers, Totnes watch commander, who was involved in the fire call out, said: “Access to the property was very difficult. It is right on the edge of the water and people next door are having some building work done so we had restricted access because of the scaffolding.
“The weather was very hot and it did take its toll on the crews.
“We got the call at 7.30am and we were there until mid afternoon.
“At least no one was hurt in the incident.”
Bringing firefighters close to the property was also made difficult because the house does not have an access road but a funicular lift and steps.
Firefighters, water jets and pumps had to be ferried to the house by the RNLI inshore lifeboat and crew while the Salcombe harbour vessel remained on standby in case more equipment was needed.
Some firefighters pumped sea water from boats while others scaled the building and neighbouring houses with ladders and used hose reels and jets from the top of the house.
The fire service spokeswoman said: “We attacked the fire from all angles. It went well.
“Half of the first and second floors were involved in fire and the remainder of the property was severely smoke-logged. The entire building is severely damaged.”
Graham Parker from the RNLI lifeboat in Salcombe said: “We were requested by Brixham coastguards to launch the inshore lifeboat to assist the fire service.
“We took firefighters out to the shoreside and remained in position to provide further assistance and in case rescue personnel should fall in the water.
“From our point of view it was a straightforward operation.”
Fellow RNLI crew member Dan Ashton said: “Salcombe Court is a focal point when you come into the town. It is an old building and will be greatly missed. It is a sad thing to see it burn down.”
Mayor of Salcombe Roger Moore said: “We had just returned from our Easter service on the beach when I heard the sirens. It was very much a flame fire and took hold very quickly. There was flames still coming out at 11am but the fire service had it under control by then. There didn’t seem to be much smoke because the wind was taking it straight out to sea. The building is just a blackened shell now.
“It is a very awkward place for the fire service to get to because it is set 30 metres below the road with a funicular lift.”
A spokesman for the fire service said it was too early to say what the cause of the fire was at this time.
The spokeswoman added: “We received numerous calls to reports of smoke coming from the property. We first sent three pumps but on arrival our crews called five then two more out as well as the command centre from Totnes.”
Angela Cater, owner of the retro sweet shop Cranch’s in Salcombe, said she heard of the fire when one of the family members staying at Salcombe Court came into the shop. She said they had six children aged six months to six years.
She said: “She was in shock. They lost everything except their lives which is the main thing. They were lucky and it could have been far much worse.”
Mrs Cater said she and some friends rallied round and managed to gather a few essentials including baby clothes, a few toys and nappy and food for the family.
It is understood the two families are currently staying at another property in Salcombe.
A police spokesman confirmed no one was injured in the incident.
He said: “No one was trapped inside at the time. We closed the road and made sure the firefighters could do their job properly.”