Residents living near the Llanwonno wildfire have described the terror of watching flames and smoke creep towards their homes, coming within just yards of their gardens. The fire, which started on August 1, has covered approximately 400 hectares, equivalent to about 560 football pitches, before the major incident status was stood down on Thursday evening.
Firefighters' efforts reassure residents
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) said the fire remained contained but crews stayed on scene to prevent further spread and protect properties. Aerial support continued through Thursday, with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) tractors and specialist crews contributing. At around 5.30pm, SWFRS announced the major incident status had been stood down.
Residents in Blaenllechau village lived with smoke, road closures, and fears of evacuation. Chris Cowern recalled seeing flames from different directions. "We could see some of the flames and plenty of the smoke. Fires were breaking out from different directions," he said. He noted the fire came within 100 yards of his home, with one portion just 30 or 40 yards away.
Close calls and community gratitude
Cowern praised firefighters who created firebreaks, saying, "The firefighters worked very hard to make firebreaks and the wind blew the fire back up the mountain rather than towards the houses." Rebecca Hester, whose garden backs onto the mountain, feared losing her family home. "I was just terrified when they got to mentioning evacuation," she said, adding that firefighters' efforts meant no evacuation was needed.
Glynda Mills, 79, said the fire came within 50 yards of her garden. She described the first night as difficult, with smoke filling her home. "It was quite terrifying," she said. She expressed gratitude for the firefighters' work, noting they were "perspiring under all that gear."
Ongoing safety measures
SWFRS urged people to stay away from affected areas and advised residents to keep windows and doors closed. South Wales Police and the Fire Crime Team remain involved, asking the public to report any suspected deliberate fire-setting. A joint statement from emergency services confirmed that "the fire remains contained, and containment measures continue to be closely monitored."
The updated statement noted that "all properties remain protected" and "all local road closures have been lifted." Crews will remain to tackle remaining hotspots and the peat fire on Penrhys Mountain.
