A councillor has warned of a potentially devastating fire risk on fields in Merthyr as people reportedly keep lighting fires during the dry weather. Cyfarthfa councillor Michelle Jones said the incidents have been taking place on land behind Heolgerrig Juniors in Merthyr Tydfil, as well as the nearby area known as the Moodies, where young people regularly gather during the summer holidays.
Stolen items used as fuel
She said wheelie bins, industrial bins, wooden gates and even a lawnmower had allegedly been stolen and taken to the site to fuel fires. “The problem we’ve got now is they are stealing, which then residents have to pay an admin fee and a delivery fee to get replaced,” she said. “We had a lawnmower stolen last week and it was over there burnt out.”
Cllr Jones said there were also concerns about litter, particularly broken glass, being left behind. “The concerns we do have are generally around the amount of litter they leave, especially if it’s broken glass as. There is wildlife over there, including wild horses, and every year we raise awareness to ask people to be responsible and take their rubbish home with them,” she said.
Risk of massive fire
She warned that the recent fires posed a serious risk because the site is surrounded by open fields and is difficult for emergency services to reach. “With this dry weather we are very concerned that this could cause a massive fire and put lots in danger - not just wildlife, but also the children themselves and local residents,” she said. “There is no way for a fire engine to get up there because you get to that area by a little path which is all overgrown.”
Cllr Jones stressed that her message is not aimed at trying to stop young people enjoying themselves. “We are not the fun police, but recently they are taking it a step too far and they are spoiling it for everyone because not everyone does that,” she said. She added that concerns were growing ahead of A-level and GCSE results days, when larger groups of young people traditionally gather in the area.
Community clean-up efforts
A group of around 20 volunteers from the Cyfarthfa community group regularly cleans up litter left behind, she said, adding: “We shouldn’t have to do it, but we do.” In a Facebook post, Cllr Jones said the Cyfarthfa Ward Independent Councillors Facebook group had received reports, along with photographs and videos, of children and young people camping in the area behind Heolgerrig Juniors overnight between July 29 and July 30. She posted a separate incident on July 31, showing another burning fire behind the Juniors.
She wrote: “We understand that young people want somewhere to meet and have fun during the school holidays. However, starting fires – particularly during the current period of extremely dry weather – is incredibly dangerous and completely unacceptable. A small fire can very quickly spread out of control, putting the young people themselves at serious risk, as well as threatening nearby homes, residents, wildlife and the surrounding environment. The consequences could be devastating and potentially life-threatening.”
She urged parents and carers to speak to their children about the dangers of lighting fires and to know where they were spending their time during the school holidays. She also asked anyone who witnessed deliberate fire-setting or criminal damage to report it to police via 101.
