Five homes were destroyed and 32 properties evacuated after a fire swept through the small community of Pantside, near Newbridge, on Wednesday afternoon. A 29-year-old woman from Newbridge has been arrested on suspicion of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered, and remains in police custody.
Community left shaken as flames engulf homes
Residents described their terror as flames surged towards their homes and gardens, with neighbours battling to protect properties using hosepipes and buckets before fire crews arrived. The fire broke out shortly before 4pm on Hazelwood Road and spread rapidly, leaving affected residents sitting on camping chairs at the edge of the cordon, trying to come to terms with losing everything.
Pamela Hughes, who has lived in Pantside for 47 years, said she smelled smoke at around 3.40pm and went outside to take in her washing. She opened her back door to see flames billowing from the field behind her garden. “It was awful,” she said. “The field was in flames. I have goosebumps thinking about it.” She credited neighbours who used hosepipes and buckets to wet her garden, saying, “If it wasn’t for them, [the fire] would have got to my garden and my house would have gone. It was that close. Absolutely petrifying.”
Residents praise community response
Rachel and Matthew Baskerville, who live on Old Pant Road, were on a beach in Devon when their daughter called to say the field behind their home was on fire. They rushed back, with Mrs Baskerville crediting boys who beat the fire with planks of wood and neighbours wetting gardens with hosepipes. “Thank god for them,” she said. Mr Baskerville added that neighbours told them the fire was all gone within 15 minutes.
Virginia Baker, another Old Pant Road resident since 1998, said her home and garden escaped by metres. Her son stood on her shed fighting the fire with a hosepipe. “He said, ‘oh my gosh, it’s got the bungalows.’ It’s so frightening.”
Investigation and support
Gwent Police said it is conducting a joint investigation with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. In a statement, the force said: “We received a report of a fire on Hazelwood Road, Pantside at around 4.05pm on Wednesday, August 12. Officers are conducting a joint investigation into the fire alongside fire investigation officers from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Thirty-two properties were evacuated and no injuries were reported.”
Chief Superintendent John Davies said: “We understand that there are a lot of ongoing wildfires across the country, however I would like to make it clear that we do not consider this fire to be linked to any other wildfires. This fire has caused significant damage to a number of residential properties which will have a devastating impact on those in the local community.”
Caerphilly County Borough Council said it continues to support residents, providing temporary accommodation for those unable to stay with family or friends. Structural engineers are assessing damage to the six most affected properties, and the local boxing and rugby clubs have opened their doors to help, with thousands of pounds raised through a GoFundMe page.
