Armed forces support has been sought to assist fire crews fighting numerous grass and woodland blazes.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service submitted the request for military assistance under the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities programme following what has been described as one of the most demanding stretches in recent memory.
The appeal came after crews dealt with in excess of 30 vegetation fires within 24 hours and responded to significant emergencies throughout South Wales and Gwent, covering locations such as Blaenavon, Cwmavon Woods, Porth, Penrhys, Tredegar, and sections of the Rhondda valley.
Wildfires have occupied much of the summer season, with certain blazes continuing to burn for several days or even weeks on end.
At Blaenavon, a substantial fire destroyed approximately 220 hectares of land, leading to the mobilisation of specialist wildfire units, unmanned aerial vehicles, and assistance from partner organisations.
Smoke from the incident impacted air quality in surrounding settlements.
A further significant emergency was declared at Llanwonno Mountain near Ferndale, where flames spread across roughly 150 hectares.
More than 20 fire appliances, specialist crews, and partner organisations responded to the incident, while Natural Resources Wales deployed a helicopter equipped for firefighting operations.
Additional emergencies have also taken place in Gwent, encompassing Cwmavon Woods close to Blaenavon and Rhiwderin in the vicinity of Risca and Rogerstone.
The request for military support was submitted in accordance with standard escalation protocols and followed the service’s prior redeployment of personnel, activation of mutual aid agreements, and collaboration with fire and rescue services throughout the United Kingdom to maintain operational capacity.
Assistant chief fire officer Matt Jones explained that the organisation’s focus remained on safeguarding residents while guaranteeing the ability to maintain operations for as long as necessary. He noted that established escalation procedures had been followed, mutual aid arrangements with National Resilience and other fire and rescue services across the UK had already been activated, and extensive resources were being deployed to support operations. He described requesting military assistance as a prudent and precautionary measure that would enhance support capacity, bolster resilience, and enable continued protection of the communities served. He added that this assistance would also help safeguard the wellbeing of firefighters and staff who had been operating under demanding conditions over an extended period.
He stated that military support would be incorporated into pre-existing emergency resilience arrangements designed for prolonged situations.
The recent blazes follow an unusually parched summer.
Last month, Natural Resources Wales elevated drought classifications across the entirety of Wales following July rainfall totalling just eight percent of typical levels for that time of year.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is advising residents to refrain from activities that might ignite fires, to avoid entering affected zones, and to alert authorities to any new blazes that could threaten lives or property.