For the third consecutive day, firefighters have been tirelessly battling a blazing mountain fire that has swept through an area equivalent to 4,000 football fields. The cause of the wildfire in Cwm Rheidol, Ceredigion, is still a mystery, but the Aberystwyth fire service has been inundated with calls seeking assistance. Station commander Emyr Jones from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service mentioned that crews were urgently summoned to tackle three separate fire fronts on Tuesday, utilizing helicopters and drones to combat the inferno.
Rhodri Davies, a councillor representing Rheidol Valley, expressed his concern on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, describing the fire crew as being overwhelmed and the situation as extremely frightening. Jones also detailed the challenging and ever-changing circumstances of the mountain fire above Strata Florida near Tregaron, citing difficulties related to the terrain, transportation, and water supply for the crews. He mentioned that a significant fire front extended approximately five miles on the other side of the forestry area.
Furthermore, Mr. Davies indicated that the fire near Strata Florida had been burning for two nights and was now entering its third day. Firefighters in Port Talbot were concurrently managing a blaze on Dinas Baglan mountain, cautioning residents in the vicinity to keep their windows shut due to the smoke. In response to the escalating situation, the emergency services were closely monitoring a nearby property in Cwm Rheidol on Monday evening, preparing the occupants for potential evacuation if necessary.
Residents residing near the fire-affected areas expressed their distress as smoke blanketed the region, with reports of ash from the fire landing on children’s attire. Manon Rhys Jones, hailing from Pontrhydfendigaid, voiced concerns for those in proximity to the Cwm Rheidol fire. Ifan Davies, councillor for Tregaron and Ystrad Fflur, anticipated that the fire service would remain engaged in combating the Cwm Rheidol fire for the foreseeable future. Additionally, Emyr Jones highlighted the critical role of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and emergency services in ensuring the safety of residents amid the ongoing fire crisis
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