A number of deliberately set wildfires spread across mountains and forestries in Wales yesterday on what was one of the hottest days of the year so far.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called out to more than 10 fires throughout the course of Wednesday afternoon.
Jennie Griffiths, Head of the Joint Fire Control for South and Mid and West Wales Fire Services, said: “A number of deliberately lit wildfires across the @SWFireandRescue mountains and forestries yesterday I’m sorry to say."
There were also fires across mid and west Wales and a fire which spread over an area the size of 12 football pitches in north Wales.
A twitter account set up by the fire service to prevent grass fires also tweeted: “Grass fires can be enormous and may quickly change directions. They move over 6mph and can jump over natural gaps such as roads.”
Rhondda
Around 10 hectares of grass, the equivalent of around 10 rugby fields, was well alight above forestry in Porth at around 4.06pm.
Two fire engines from Tonypandy and Gilfach Goch were called to the scene and fought the blaze for around two-and-a-half hours using beaters.
Two appliances from Pontypridd were also called to the Graig after reports of a five hectare grass fire and a slightly damaged car.
The fire later spread and firefighters had to tackle around ten hectares of vegetation and bracken for around three hours.
The blaze was fuelled by high winds and crews had to use beaters to tackle the fire.
An even bigger fire, around 80 hectares (almost the size of 80 rugby fields), was deliberately set in Maerdy at around 9.47pm.
Six fire engines were called to the scene and tackled the blaze for more than two-and-a-half hours.
One hectare of grassland was also destroyed by a deliberately set fire near a golf club in Ystrad at around 10.28pm and Tonypandy crews attended.
Grass and tress stretching for four hectares were deliberately destroyed by a wildfire near the water towers in Clydach Vale at 10.58pm.”
Mountain Ash
Crews attended two separate mountain fires in Mountain Ash. Two crews from Aberdare were at Darren Las and a further two appliances attended Copplestone Street at around 8.04pm.
One of the fires spread to around 10 hectares of grass and trees but firefighters eventually managed to get the blaze under control.
Jennie Griffiths, Head of the Joint Fire Control for South and Mid and West Wales Fire Services, tweeted: “Two large wildfires were deliberately started in Mountain Ash. One at 7.16pm involving 10 hectares of land and one at 8.48pm, destroying grass and trees.”
Andrew Morgan, the leader of RCT Council tweeted: “Few days dry weather and back to mountain fires. Three fires above Darren Las in Mountain Ash tonight.
“Been informed South Wales Fire and Rescue Service are aware and are on the mountain. Lots of concerned residents though.”
Gwent
Three fire engines and a water bowser were used to tackle a large grass fire on a mountain in Cwm Ebbw Vale after the fire service received 999 calls at around 8.19pm.
Crews from Abertillery, Brynmawr and Caerphilly fought a seven hectare deliberately lit wildfire for around two hours in Aberbeeg at around 6.30pm.
Vale of Glamorgan
Three crews attended after eight hectares of grass and bracken was destroyed by a ‘well alight’ wildfire which was deliberately set in Aberthin at 10.23pm.
It was a similar scene across the country
Around 30 firefighters from Caernarfon, Bangor and Llanberis battled a massive gorse fire on moorland in Fachwen, near Deiniolen at around 3pm yesterday.
Smoke was drifting towards homes as the fire spread over an area the size of 12 football pitches.
A North Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said later that the flames affected around 30 acres of land – more than 121,000 square metres or the equivalent of around 20 football pitches.
The official twitter page for the Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service also posted a tweet yesterday saying: “Crews have attended a number of grass fires across the brigade area this evening.”
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/huge-number-deliberate-grassfires-caused-11218527
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