Firefighters have been dealing with dozens of wildfires across Wales
Firefighters have been dealing with dozens of wildfires across Wales
Firefighters have been dealing with dozens of wildfires across Wales. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Mid and West Fire and Rescue Service have reported a number of grass fires in popular walking areas on Thursday, March 20.
South Wales fire officers have attended incidents at Mynydd y Gaer, Rhigos Mountain, Tredegar Golf Club in Newport, Cefn Golau in Tredegar, Llethr Ddu Farm in Pontypridd, Taff Ely Wind Farm at Gilfach Goch, and The Monkey hiking area at Maesteg.
Mid and West firefighters have attended fires at Crynant, Seven Sisters, Cwmdauddwr, Rhayader, Cimla, Neath, Three Crosses, Swansea, Abereiddy, St David’s, Glasfynydd, Builth Wells, Cwmdu, Crickhowell, Dolwen, Llanfair Caereinion, Penycae and Llandovery, Wales Online reports.
The wildfires across Wales follow several dry and sunny days, but the conditions are expected to become unsettled over the weekend as a low pressure system moves in from the south west. The majority of the incidents reported have only required a single fire appliance, but control rooms have been inundated with calls, often repeats to the same incident. Both fire services warned the public to only call in the event of an emergency.
South Wales Police community safety manager Gareth Prosser said on Thursday afternoon: “Causing deliberate grass fires is a criminal offence classed as arson. Grass fires pose a direct threat to life as well as causing a massive disruption to communities, destruction of property, damage to land, degradation of the environment, danger to a huge variety of wildlife, and also health concerns through smoke inhalation, which can cause respiratory issues – especially for vulnerable people.
“In South Wales Police we will be taking a proactive stance in dealing with deliberate grass fires with extra patrols being carried out. If you have any information about grass fires being deliberately set, please do let us know. If you see a fire, call 999 and ask for the fire service.”
One of the worst affected areas on Thursday is Maerdy Mountain, Treorchy, where a large grassfire can be seen for miles. Fire officers have been at the mountain locally referred to as Treorchy Mountain since early afternoon, but on Thursday night said it had become too unsafe for fire officers to remain at the scene.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “The fire on the mountain above Troedyrhiw Terrace, Treorchy, is now going to burn through the night, as it is unsafe for our crews to tackle this fire in the dark. The fire will be monitored repeatedly, so please only call 999 if there is a risk to life or property. “
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