Firefighters are tackling a massive blaze near Shrewsbury, while crews in Wales have declared a major incident as they continue to battle a wildfire in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Blaze near Shrewsbury
The blaze at Battlefield Heritage Park, a country park north of Shrewsbury, broke out this afternoon. It is understood to be just a few fields away from the site associated with the 1403 Battle of Shrewsbury, fought between King Henry IV and a rebel army led by Henry "Harry Hotspur" Percy.
Wildfire in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Further south, crews from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service are fighting a wildfire in the Blaenllechau and Ferndale area of Rhondda Cynon Taf. The blaze, which began on Saturday afternoon, has already scorched around 150 hectares of land - roughly the size of 210 football pitches.
Fire service statement
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said in an update this morning that crews are continuing to work at the scene of a "significant wildfire" in the Rhondda area.
The fire service said: "The fire, which began on Saturday afternoon, has affected forestry plantation land and common land, involving bracken, scrub and vegetation across an area estimated at around 150 hectares at its largest extent."
"Crews have been working continuously in challenging conditions on steep and difficult terrain, creating and maintaining firebreaks to contain the spread of the fire and protect nearby communities."
"While firefighters made good progress in reducing the size of the fire, changing wind conditions on Sunday evening led to an increase in firefighting activity and resources. Local communities may experience smoke from the fire over the coming days."
"We have declared it a major incident as it requires a greater demand on our resources and as such more coordination. There are currently 20 fire engines at the scene, supported by two specialist wildfire teams, senior officers, a high-volume pumping unit and drone capability."
"Firefighters are being supported by partner agencies including Natural Resources Wales, South Wales Police, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and health partners, with agencies working together to monitor the situation and coordinate their response."
"A rest centre has been set up for residents of Blaenllechau/Ferndale at Rhondda Fach Leisure Centre. Residents are not currently being asked to evacuate their homes, but the rest centre has been set up for those who do not wish to remain in their homes because of poor air quality caused by the fire."
"The incident is expected to continue for a number of days and further updates will be provided as the situation develops."
"We want to reassure the public that all our crews have the support they need to deal with wildfire, and while we are grateful for community support, we don’t need any refreshments or donations at the scene. We would prefer it if you avoided the incident area and stay safe."
"If people feel that they want to donate, we work very closely with the Firefighters Charity who support members of the community and their families with wellbeing and practical support when it's needed most."
