A major incident remains in force near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, where wildfires have burned across roughly 250 hectares for a third consecutive day, forcing the evacuation of up to 20 homes and the closure of several roads. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has now called in military support, and the Welsh government has confirmed that around 100 armed forces personnel will help ease pressure on overstretched crews.
Stephen Kinnock, Secretary of State for Wales, said troops had been sent to provide logistical assistance and to
ease the pressure on the groundas firefighters continue to battle blazes across the region.
Why has the military been called in?
The deployment followed a formal request from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service after what officials described as an extended spell of hot weather combined with heavy operational demand, according to a Welsh regional broadcaster's report. The support is being described as logistical and tactical in nature, and the Welsh government says it is ready to fund the operation if required. The same report notes the deployment is tied to several major wildfires burning simultaneously across south Wales, including sites at Blaenavon and Porth, not solely the Llandovery blaze.
How is the Llandovery community responding?
Residents and businesses around Llandovery have rallied to support emergency crews and displaced neighbours. Lynn Martin, whose family runs the Llanerchindda Farm Guest House, said fire crews stayed overnight at the property after bookings for the weekend were cancelled.
We cooked breakfast for them and then off they went at six this morning.
We were worried the fire was going to get us. You couldn't see an inch outside the house.
Martin said she was
very concernedgiven the number of fields surrounding the guest house, and estimated the business had lost several thousand pounds from cancelled bookings.
Luckily it meant we could house the fire crews instead. We were going to give the rooms for free but they've offered to pay.
Nerys Jones, a community councillor for Rhandirmwyn, said the fire had advanced towards the village and described the situation as
scary.
Thankfully everyone had somewhere to go, the community have been fantastic.
She added it must have been
awful for those asked to leave their homes behind. Jonathan Stanley, manager of The Kings Head Inn in Llandovery, said locals had described hearing the fire from miles away.
Councillor Handel Davies said between 17 and 20 houses across two streets in Rhandirmwyn had been evacuated as a precaution, and road closures remain in place in the area. Elidyr Communities Trust, which supports young adults with complex learning needs and disabilities, has also evacuated its site; the organisation said all residents and learners were safe and well, with those able to travel taken away for the weekend. It thanked
everyone who has stepped up to help in this extremely difficult and unprecedented situation. Residents, learners and staff had earlier sheltered at Llangadog Community Centre.
Carmarthenshire County Council has opened a rest centre at Llandovery Leisure Centre, which it says will remain available throughout the day. According to Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service's incident update, the Rhandirmwyn wildfire is being managed through a multi-agency Tactical Coordination Group, with crews continuing to monitor and contain the affected land. Local traders have also pitched in, including a fish and chip shop feeding firefighters and farmers, while nearby stables have offered space for any horses displaced by the blaze.
What is happening in Ferndale?
A separate flare-up in Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf, has left residents badly shaken. A journalist reporting from the scene said locals were extremely frightened, with resident Mark Carmody describing flames coming within 30 metres of his home while firefighters doused the rear of the building and dampened surrounding bracken.
The Ferndale fire had already been declared a major incident earlier in August, and officials later concluded it had been reignited through deliberate fire-setting, according to an earlier broadcaster report. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service's newsroom update confirms the Ferndale and Llanwonno wildfire remains an active, ongoing incident, with the service working alongside South Wales Police, Natural Resources Wales and local authorities.
What other incidents are crews tackling?
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service reported responding to around 30 separate incidents across the region, with a significant number of resources concentrated at Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf. The service said challenging terrain, high temperatures and shifting wind conditions were continuing to complicate firefighting operations. Crews remained deployed at Tredegar in Blaenau Gwent, Van Road in Garth, Blaenavon, Porth, Merthyr Tydfil, Penrhys and Bike Park Wales near Merthyr.
The wider crisis follows weeks of wildfire activity across Wales during a prolonged heatwave. Fire chiefs previously activated national emergency arrangements after crews in north and south Wales were stretched by multiple blazes and residents complained about a shortage of helicopters, as detailed in our earlier coverage of Wales' wildfire crisis response. An earlier major incident was also declared in north Wales as firefighters battled wildfires across the country amid record heat, as reported in our previous coverage of the major incident declared across Wales.
What happens next?
Officials are due to carry out a further assessment of aerial support for the Ferndale response later today, with a temporary no-fly zone remaining in place over the area, according to a local radio station's report. Crews are expected to remain on scene at Rhandirmwyn to monitor and control the fire, and the Welsh government has said it stands ready to fund the military support operation if it proves necessary. With hot weather forecast to continue into the weekend, fire services across south Wales are bracing for further demand on already stretched resources.
Key Facts
- Up to 20 homes evacuated near Rhandirmwyn as roads remain closed.
- Wildfire near Llandovery has burned roughly 250 hectares over three days.
- Around 100 military personnel deployed to support South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
- Ferndale blaze, earlier a major incident, was reignited by deliberate fire-setting according to officials.
- South Wales Fire and Rescue Service responded to about 30 incidents in one day, including Porth, Tredegar and Blaenavon.
