‘Stop fires before it’s too late and someone loses their life’
FIREFIGHTERS have spent the last few days tackling large grass fires in Wales which have left a devastating impact on the land and communities who lives there.
Dramatic images show fires raging across the landscape causing damage to wildlife and the environment and coming dangerously close to people’s homes.
Further images taken yesterday reveal the aftermath of this year’s first grass fires and expose the scale of the problem as firefighters fought more than 70 grass fires in the space of 48 hours in South Wales.
One fire spread to the size of more than 160 rugby pitches near Treorchy, Rhondda, where crews were forced to withdraw when conditions became too dangerous.
There are growing concerns someone will be killed or injured in one of the fires. The wife of one of the firefighters called out to tackle them called on the arsonists responsible to stop “before it’s too late”.
The firefighter’s wife, who did not want to be named, said: “These firefighters have their own families who worry terribly when their loved one is called to a grass fire.
“Yes they signed up for the job, but these grass fires are unnecessarily putting firefighters’ lives at risk, not to mention the wildlife.
“This all needs to stop before it’s too late and someone loses their life.
“What if a family member of the person starting these fires had a fire in their own home? If all resources are attending the grass fire then there will be no one to help.”
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service group manager Vaughan Jenkins said they received 480 calls from 4pm on Saturday to 4pm on Sunday, with more than 400 relating to these type of fires.
He said they cannot yet confirm how many of the fires were lit on purpose but said the “majority” were set deliberately.
Mr Jenkins said they received 89 calls to one incident which he described as “a massive strain” on resources.
He said: “One of the biggest issues is the drain it puts on our resources. If someone has a house fire or if there is a road traffic collision, then it will mean a delay in our response time.
“We have got a lot of education at the moment to reduce them but that still needs to get through.
“I’d say to those who lit the fire, or knew who did, to think about all of the consequences of what you’re doing.
“It’s destroying the landscape and the wildlife – and it could cost people’s lives because of the delays it causes.”
The Rhondda was badly affected by fire on Penrhys with the mountainside left black and charred.
Crews also battled deliberate grass fires across the Bridgend area with blazes on the mountainside above Caerau, Maesteg, on Sunday, as well as the Bwlch, near Nantymoel, and also Stormy Down, between Pyle and Bridgend.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mick Crennell, chairman of the All Wales Strategic Arson Reduction Board, said: “Over the last decade, we have had considerable success in reducing the incidence and impact of deliberate fire setting within our communities.
“However, I believe that there is more we can achieve. I recognise the importance of working closely with our partners and our past success is a direct result of the hard work, innovation and drive of our Strategic Arson Reduction Board and the dedicated practitioners from all the agencies who have been out there delivering initiatives within our communities.”
He added: “Our aim is to encourage a cultural shift across Wales so that arson is seen as socially unacceptable by all. We will take action to support this positive and lasting cultural change to create a Wales that we all want to live in, work in and to visit now and in the future.”
Anyone with information about grass fires is urged to call the fire service on 101.