This was the dramatic scene in the centre of Heavitree in the early hours of this morning after a fire broke out inside a church.
Emergency services were called to the United Reformed Church on Fore Street at around 1am after reports of a fire.
Ten firefighters from three engines as well as police were seen in and around the historic building as smoke poured out.
Firefighters were said to have spent around 90 minutes trying to get inside the building and extinguishing the fire that started in the basement.
Emily Chamberlain, 24, who lives on the street with her two children, was woken-up by the fire. She watched-on as firefighters fought to get inside the building and control the blaze.
She said: "I heard massive banging outside. So I looked out of my window to see what was happening. Smoke was pouring out of the church building. It looked pretty serious. The firefighters spent time trying to get inside and then they used a hose to put out the flames. It was the biggest fire I've ever seen.
"I imagine lots of people were woken-up, because it was pretty noisy. But fortunately my three-year-old son managed to sleep through it all."
A statement from the fire service read: "One fire appliance from Middlemoor and another from Danes Castle fire station were mobilised to reports of a building fire on Fore Street, Exeter."
"On arrival, crews confirmed smoke issuing from the basement of the building.
"Crews gained access in to building using four breathing apparatus sets with a hose reel and two main jets. They also used two positive pressure ventilation fans to clear the smoke from the building."
The cause of the fire is unknown.
