Crews Attend Grass Fire Near Mynydd Newydd Road, Swansea

On Thursday, May 26th 2016 at 05:42pm, firefighters from Morriston, Swansea Central and Swansea West attended a grass fire near Mynydd Newydd Road, Swansea. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The fire service deployed a small fires unit from Morriston, a rescue pump from Swansea Central and an aerial rescue pump from Swansea West. The fire was extinguished using a hose reel jet, a leaf blower and beaters but not before 3 hectares of land was destroyed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Police closed the road due to thick smoke on the road. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Firefighters left the scene at 06:55pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Deliberate grass fire setting is irresponsible, dangerous and criminal. It destroys the environment, kills wildlife and livestock and puts communities at serious risk. We know from research conducted by Public Health Wales and Public Health England that it exposes large numbers of people to toxic smoke with potentially serious long-term health damage. Firefighters have to risk their lives to tackle this menace – at the expense of being able to respond to other emergencies. Those who are caught setting grass fires are rightly punished with the full rigour of the law. They are normally charged with arson, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. I commend the work of both firefighters and police in the actions that they have taken. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Will Bowen, Head of Arson Reduction at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Deliberate fire setting is a crime. Deliberately set grass fires are extremely unpredictable and can spiral out of control within minutes. Every time our firefighters are called out to a deliberately set grass or mountain fire, not only does it cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds, it negatively impacts on the environment, wildlife and carbon footprint and puts firefighters at a needless risk. It also means that firefighters could be diverted from attending a real emergency – someone trapped in a house fire or a crashed car, where there is a potential life risk.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are working with partner organisations to reduce the number of large grass and gorse fires through education and prevention programmes, including school visits and offering advice to parents. Fire and Police officers are visiting schools together in areas where fires are deliberately lit to inform pupils of the dangers of starting fires, the implications of their actions, and the criminal aspect of fire setting. It is the policy of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service to work with partner organisations to vigorously pursue the prosecution of anyone involved in deliberate fire-setting.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would like to remind landowners that the burn season has now ended and will not reopen until the beginning of October. Burning outside of the burn season can result in prosecution and a fine from the Welsh Government and landowners also risk a financial penalty for a breach of the Single Payment Scheme. If landowners wish to burn outside of the burn season they must apply to the Welsh Government for a license.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​