Firecrew battle hillside blaze three nights in a row

Firefighters in mid Wales have been battling a mountain fire for three consecutive nights.

The cause of the wildfire in Cwm Rheidol, Ceredigion, remains unknown but the fire service in Aberystwyth said it was dealing with a high volume of calls.

Emyr Jones, station commander at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said the fire had reached eight miles long, with a helicopter and drones being used to tackle the flames.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Rhodri Davies, councillor for Rheidol Valley, said the fire crew were “on their knees” and it was “very scary”.

Fire crews in Port Talbot are also dealing with a blaze on Dinas Baglan mountain, and asked people living nearby to keep their windows shut.

Mr Davies said a property was warned on Monday evening to pack their belongings for possible evacuation, but the fire crew were able to keep the Cwm Rheidol blaze at bay.

“If it does carry on and the wind picks up, we need urgent action from the emergency services like NRW to supply helicopters,” he said.

One helicopter was used to treat both fires, Mr Davies said, which made it increasingly difficult for firefighters.

He said the council are currently working with NRW and the emergency services to make sure residents are safe.

Ifan Davies, councillor for Tregaron and Ystrad Fflur, said he believed “the fire brigade will be here for a few more days” tackling the fire in the Cwm Rheidol area.

Speaking on Dros Frecwast on Tuesday morning, he said he was worried the flames would not be put out soon.

“I believe that every [firefighter] in Ceredigion is trying to control the situation.”

Davies said emergency services were waiting for rain.

“Probably nothing will change now until rain comes over the weekend I believe – Sunday,” he said.

“So it’s a busy and anxious time in the area.”

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Tregaron, Lampeter, Rhayader, Llanwrtyd Well, Builth Wells, Llandrindod Wells and Llanidloes Fire Stations were called to reports of a grass fire in Ffair-rhos and asked people to avoid the area.

They asked people only to call 999 if their life is in immediate danger.