A woman has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire, which is understood to have started as a car fire, spread to a neighbouring property, leading to residents running into the bungalow to rescue a woman and her pets.
Police and firefighters were called to the fire at a property in Glan Yr Afon in Ammanford at around 3pm on Saturday afternoon. Neighbours ran into the bungalow and rescued the woman who lives there, her dog, and birds.
A woman, 52, has been arrested in connection with the incident and has since been released under investigation.
Residents criticise fire service response
Residents criticised the fire service after they said they were left waiting for around 30 minutes for the fire brigade to arrive at the scene as their local fire station wasn't being manned.
Despite being a five-minute drive (1.7 miles) from Ammanford fire station, residents said they were told the station was not being manned and crews were instead travelling from Llanelli. Llanelli station is 15 miles and a 25-minute drive away.
The residents claimed if their local station had been manned the fire may not have spread to the bungalow.
Neighbours describe rescue and loss
Lee Fletcher, who was visiting his mum on the street when he smelt a strong smell of ash and went outside to investigate, said: "I thought: 'What the hell is that, it can't be a barbecue?'"
He said he saw a lot of smoke and ash and discovered that a car was on fire. "If they were there quicker they could've put the car fire out and saved the house," he claimed. "Everyone in the street was calling multiple times because everyone was worried."
Lee and two others quickly went into the property and brought out the woman who lives there, her dog, and birds.
"It's not normal. If they had caught the car fire within 15 minutes that lady's house would've been okay," he claimed. "The house caught on fire and they still hadn't come.
"I feel bad for this woman who has worked hard all her life and has now lost the memories of her dead husband because they were all in the house which has burnt."
Lee said the woman's husband died three years ago and had pictures and belongings in the bungalow.
"If they had been a mile down the road it would've been out in 15 minutes," he claimed. "I have a house here, so does my mum and my sister. If something was to happen to any of them it makes you feel like what is the point in even calling because the house will already be burnt down."
Official statements
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: "Dyfed-Powys Police attended the scene of a fire at a property in Glan Yr Afon in Ammanford at approximately 3.15pm on Saturday along with colleagues from the fire service.
"No one was present within the property at the time and nobody was injured. A woman aged 52 and from Ammanford was arrested on suspicion of arson and has been released under investigation."
A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "We fully understand the concerns of local residents and appreciate the actions taken by members of the community who assisted the occupant before fire crews arrived.
"The first emergency call relating to this incident was received at 2.56pm on Saturday, August 8. Contrary to suggestions that Ammanford fire station was closed, the station's crew was already responding to another emergency incident at the time and was therefore unavailable for mobilisation.
"Fire control immediately mobilised the nearest available fire appliances, with crews responding from Tumble, Pontardawe, Llanelli and Morriston stations.
"The first fire appliance arrived at the scene at 3.19pm, with additional resources arriving shortly afterwards.
"As with all emergency incidents, resources are mobilised based on availability at the time of the call to ensure the quickest and most effective response possible. When a local crew is already committed to another emergency, alternative resources are deployed immediately.
"The safety of our communities remains our highest priority and we remain committed to providing an effective emergency response across the Mid and West Wales area."
