Grass fire call-outs double in 48 hours
Grass fire call-outs double in 48 hours
30 March 2012
published by www.thisissouthwales.co.uk
United Kingdom — THE number of grass fires across Mid and West Wales has almost doubled in the space of 48 hours.
Firefighters were called to a total of 34 grass fires between 8am on Tuesday and 8am on Wednesday.
That figure almost doubled between 8am on Wednesday and 8am on yesterday when Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called to 60 fires across the region.
Fire crews were called to a grass fire at Seven Sisters at 8.50pm on Wednesday evening and another close to wind turbines in Glynneath at 9.21pm.
A crew from Glynneath were called to the incident and made the decision to let the fire burn itself out as there was no risk to property close to the scene.
Crews from Reynoldston attended a grass fire at Llanrhidian at 9.32pm and another at Walters Lane in Llangennith at 10.08pm.
Firefighters from Swansea West were also called to a grass fire at Fairwood Common close to Swansea Airport at 1.55am yesterday.
Yesterday crews dealt with grass fires including a blaze at Godre’rgraig near Pontardawe at 12.25pm.
Crews from Pontardawe and Neath used a hosereel jet and beaters to extinguish the blaze which did not spread to nearby trees.
Firegfighters from Morriston attended a grass fire in the Winch Wen area of Swansea at 1.47pm. Earlier in the afternoon crews from Abercrave attended a fire in Ynysmeudwy at 1.36pm.
Steven Davies, Arson Reduction Team Leader, said: “Our crews have been extremely busy over the last week tackling grass and gorse fires.
“Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended 60 grass fires across the region between 8am on Wednesday and 8am on Thursday.
“Officers have been trained on how to predict and control the spread of wildfires and use innovative new suppression methods in tackling this type of blaze. We are also working hard to reduce the number of grass fires through education and prevention programmes, including school visits and offering advice to parents.
“We are asking people to remain vigilant for grass and gorse fires and to consider the danger and consequence of deliberate fire-setting.”
A spokesman for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said there is a huge rise in the number of grass and gorse fires during the spring months as warm and dry weather conditions mean fires can spread very quickly.
