Forestry fire near Rhos, Llandysul, is believed to have been started deliberately
On Sunday, 31st May 2020 at 08:57pm, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service responded to a forestry fire near Rhos, Llandysul, with crews from Llandysul, Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthen and Tumble mobilised to the incident.
Approximately 210 hectares of various sized spruce trees and shrubland was destroyed by the fire.
Firefighters fought the fire using 45mm jets, five hose reel jets, a fogging unit, wildfire blowers and beaters.
Natural Resources Wales also deployed a helicopter to assist the Fire Service in our efforts to extinguish the fire whilst a Fire Service drone was also utilised at the scene.
Despite extinguishing the main fire, a number of local hotspots continued to smoulder for several days at the forestry, due to the dry conditions, which was monitored by the Fire Service.
The fire is believed to have been lit deliberately and is being investigated by the Police and Fire Service.
Station Manager Richard Vaughan-Williams, Arson Reduction Manager for MAWWFRS, said:
“Unfortunately, we have seen far too many large wildfires already this year. Not only do they have a significant ecological and financial impact, but also put a strain on our fire and rescue resources.
For the firefighters, they are very difficult to deal with due to terrain and accessibility. The extreme temperatures and longer travel distances carrying equipment make working conditions even harder.
This incident saw multiple crews detained over several days, meaning appliances had to travel from further afield to attend other emergencies in the area. This is all at a time that we are trying to limit exposure between crews during the pandemic phase.
At this incident, we saw various ages of forestry, habitats and wildlife destroyed as a consequence of fire, which is suspected to have been started deliberately.”
Sergeant Delme Jones, of the local neighbourhood policing team, Dyfed-Powys Police, said:
“Fires such as this pose a real threat to community safety. Fires are unpredictable – this one alone has damaged land the size of 400 football pitches – and also have a devastating environmental impact, damaging both wildlife and the trees themselves, some which take up to 50 years to fully mature.
“The Neighbourhood Policing Team is working closely with the Fire Service to investigate this fire and identify those responsible.”
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Dyfed-Powys Police are appealing to anybody who may have any information regarding this incident to contact police online: https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/contact-us/report-an-incident/ by email: contactcentre@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101.
