South Wales Fire and Rescue Service was still fighting a wildfire above Cwmavon near Blaenavon on Monday evening, almost 24 hours after it was first reported. Blaenavon Fire and Rescue station had been at the hillside site since roughly 8.45pm on Sunday night.
Crews were still there at roughly 5.45pm on Monday, and the service said a number of resources remained in attendance. The fire was tackled with beaters and a leaf blower after more resources were requested once crews arrived.
Blaenavon hillside response
The crew was mobilised shortly before 8.45pm to the wildfire on the hillside above Cwmavon. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the conditions were challenging, especially under foot, which slowed work on the slope and kept the response going into Monday evening.
Residents saw smoke from the blaze as far away as Usk, Raglan and Crickhowell. That widened the impact beyond the hillside itself and gave people across a broad area a direct sign that the fire was still active.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
The service said it was also dealing with two separate grass fires, one in Treherbert and one in Blaenavon, while it was experiencing a high volume of calls. Residents were asked to avoid the area until the incident was resolved.
The fire remains the immediate issue for people near Blaenavon: crews were still on scene after almost 24 hours, with smoke reported well beyond Cwmavon and the response stretched across more than one fire at the same time.
