Hundreds of grass fires reported across south Wales
Hundreds of grass fires reported across south Wales
21 April 2010
published by news.bbc.co.uk
United Kingdom — Fire services in south and mid Wales are being stretched by deliberately set grass fires, say control managers.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said it had received more than 1,000 calls over the weekend and 250 on Tuesday evening alone.
Duty control manager Kay Carter said many members of the public who called reported that they could see people lighting the fires.
She added: “We want to prosecute these people because it is a criminal act.”
Ms Carter said that despite the wet and muddy weather of a few weeks ago the weather and the ground had now dried up.
“It’s causing us real issues,” she told BBC Radio Wales. “Our resources are stretched.
“Both frontline crews and our control staff are exceptionally busy during these periods. There’s no let-up with the continuing good weather.”
Ms Carter said reports of grass fires on Tuesday evening had been received from the Newport, Aberdare, Pontypridd, Merthyr and Rhondda areas.
“Unfortunately all these grass fires are deliberately set and they are increasing in number,” she added.
‘Culture’
“Over the weekend we took over 1,000 calls and over 500 of those calls were repeat calls and many of the callers were telling us they could see the people lighting the fires on the mountains.
“So what we urge the public to do is to ring the police because we want to prosecute these people because it is a criminal act.”
Ms Carter said that South Wales Fire Service had put in place a number of initiatives to engage the youth of the high risk areas, but these appeared to work only for a small amount of time.
“There appears to be a culture that is accepted in some of these areas that it is the fun thing to do,” she said.
Mid and West Wales service also reported that it has been busy attending grass fires.
