‘Children starting grass fires’

Fire chiefs believe that children are among those deliberately starting fires that have stretched their capacity over the past month.

Huge blazes, like the one attended by local crews last week in Llangynog, are destroying miles of grassland with many of them started deliberately or caused by unattended bonfires.

Mid and West Wales Fire Services say the dry spell has kept them on their toes with a combination of anti-social behaviour, householders burning refuse waste and a number of farmers and landowners burning grassland outside the permitted winter burn dates to blame.

Mydrian Harries, Corporate Head of Prevention and Protection for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Task Force Lead for Operation Dawns Glaw, an all-Wales multi-agency taskforce, said: “It has become very clear to the taskforce over the last few weeks that there is a very small minority of children, young people and adults determined to set fire to land within our communities placing everyone at risk.

“Our Emergency Services have worked extremely hard to both respond and put out these fires as quickly as possible under the current lockdown situation. This is a wholly unnecessary use of our emergency services during this difficult time.”

A number of fires have also occurred on farmland, destroying habitats for ground nesting birds and other wildlife.

Mr Harries added: “It is unacceptable for a small minority of landowners and land managers to continue starting grass fires deliberately outside the legal dates (after March 31) and against all the advice they are provided. The work of the Task Force includes recording all locations where these deliberate grass fires occur and reporting them to the Welsh Government Cross Compliance department and Police.”

Mr Harris thanked members of the public for sharing information on those responsible and encouraged more to come forward by contacting 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.