South Wales wildfires prompt military support as crews battle dozens of blazes

Fire crews in south Wales are continuing to tackle dozens of wildfires, with about 200 military personnel now helping the response. The support has been brought in as South Wales Fire and Rescue Service faces severe pressure from multiple blazes across the country. Officials say the extra capacity is being used to help firefighters concentrate on the most specialist parts of the operation.

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Chief fire officer Fin Monahan said the UK and Welsh governments had taken "a very serious step" in bringing in the military, but said the move was needed because crews were dealing with fires on a wide scale. He said about 200 members of the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment are involved, with support from 22 Royal Engineers, the Royal Logistics Corps and Army helicopters. Monahan also said seven other fire services have been assisting, including crews from London and Cumbria.

The military role has focused on logistics rather than direct firefighting. Soldiers have been helping with water distribution, digging trenches and building fire breaks, according to Monahan. He said that work had freed up firefighters to use their specialist skills more effectively.

He also praised the soldiers as doing an "utterly phenomenal job" and said the Royal Logistics Corps and Royal Engineers had helped ensure crews had water available. The scale of the response underlines how widespread the fires have become in Wales. Monahan said crews were fighting dozens of fires across the country, while about 14 separate fires were being tackled in south Wales on Sunday.

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Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews were dealing with blazes in Rhandirmwyn and Ammanford in Carmarthenshire, Hay-on-Wye and Brecon in Powys, Gorseinon in Swansea, and Tenby in Pembrokeshire, as well as smoke in Llanelli. The incident matters because it shows the strain that prolonged wildfire conditions can place on emergency services and local infrastructure. Monahan said the Welsh water system was under pressure, adding another challenge for crews trying to contain the fires.

The involvement of military personnel and helicopters also suggests a response that has moved beyond routine fire service resources. For local communities, the disruption has spread across several counties and required support from across the UK. There are also signs of wider concern among local politicians and fire services.

Chris Bryant, the MP for Rhondda and Ogmore, described a fire in Treherbert as "appalling" and thanked crews from London for helping. He said he was impressed by fire workers but warned that the situation "can't be our new normal". Fire crews in Hay-on-Wye have also been sharing images of their work, reflecting the sustained nature of the response.

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