20ft wall of flames was just yards from homes
THOUSANDS of square metres of land have been left scorched after a huge grass fire took hold close to people’s houses.
People living in Swffryd, Blaenau Gwent, have spoken of how they could only look on in shock as a wall of intense flames came to within metres of their homes.
They are now preparing for a major clean-up after a fire that Gwent Police and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service have both described as deliberate.
New pictures of the aftermath of the recent fire have emerged following a fortnight in which grass fires and woodland fires have devastated swathes of Wales’ natural habitats.
Robert Box, 70, has lived on Lewis Street for almost 40 years. He said that despite seeing regular grass fires, he has never witnessed anything quite like the 20ft flames that burned just metres away from his house.
He said: “It was absolutely terrible here, and is without doubt the worst fire I’ve seen in the village since I moved to Lewis Street in the 1980s.
“It just went up so incredibly fast you couldn’t believe it, and I have to admit after seeing the size of the flames I was very scared. At one point they were around 20ft high which is quite frightening.”
He added: “I think everyone was nervous to be honest, with people running out of the houses to get their cars moved from the path of the flames.
“The stench was awful as well, and even though it’s raining now you can still smell it in the air a week on from the incident.
“It’s just crazy. I’m not sure exactly how it started, but I think it’s very sad if it was done on purpose as a lot of harm could have been caused to someone.”
Robert and Cherrill Bigham have lived on the street for the past 10 years, and also said it was the worst fire they’ve seen.
Cherrill, 32, said: “I was in the house when it all happened and it just felt really surreal. I could see this black smoke coming over the house and thought it was fog, but then the smell of burning started to reach us and I knew something wasn’t right.
“I went to the front door and I could hear the neighbours coming out, some running with their garden hose pipes to stop the fire coming further up the banking, and it was just complete chaos from there.
“Of course it was scary being in the house so close to flames like that, and even though I didn’t feel worried about the fire coming across the road, I was very conscious of how the smoke could affect my children.
“We rushed to close all the windows but the smell is still lingering here even today. The flames were eventually put out by the fire service, but not before a huge section of the banking had been scorched.
“It looks awful now and I’m sure it will take a long time to get it back to the way it was.”
Husband Robert, 36, who works as a team leader in the nearby Braces Bread factory, went out the next day with his drone and was shocked by what he found.
He said: “I knew it was bad, but when I put the drone up I was shocked to see just how far the fire had spread in such a short space of time. It’s very scary to realise how quickly it can go up, and to be honest I’m just very grateful that nobody was hurt.
“There is a good community spirit here in Swffryd, and over the last few days the council has dropped off bags, and people have begun to clear up some of the mess from down there, but it will be one hell of a job.”
Just a few doors down Gary Mann, 66, was returning from the shops when he saw the flames, though admits it is the lasting damage caused to the area – just over a week since the blaze – that leaves him with the most sadness.
He said: “It’s not very nice to see a fire like that coming towards the house, with absolutely massive flames going across the banking.
“It moved so fast with the wind and as quickly as the firefighters could put it out it was moving on and catching in another spot.
“People were frightened of course, running out of the houses either in fear or to move their cars before they were burned.
“What’s worse now though is the sight we’re left with in the aftermath, as it’s really made an eyesore for people coming past who will see these huge chunks of black scorched land outside the row. Hopefully we can all come together to clear it up again, but in terms of the burns I think it’s going to take some time.”
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the grass fire spread to three hectares of fern with the cause “deemed as deliberate”.
A spokesperson for Gwent Police said: “Setting deliberate grass fires is an extremely reckless and dangerous activity, the consequences of which can be far-reaching for the environment, wildlife and local communities. Anyone with any information is asked to call us on 101 quoting reference 2100138914. You can also report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”