Crews 'on their knees' as fire rages for third day

Firefighters have spent a third day battling a mountain blaze that has spread across an area the size of 3,500 football pitches.

The cause of the wildfire in Cwm Rheidol, Ceredigion, remains unknown but the fire service in Aberystwyth said it was dealing with a high volume of calls.

Emyr Jones, station commander at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said crews had been called to three different fire fronts on Tuesday afternoon, with a helicopter and drones being used to tackle the flames.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Rhodri Davies, councillor for Rheidol Valley, said the fire crew were "on their knees" and it was "very scary".

Crews are on their third day of battling through wildfires

Mr Jones said the situation with the mountain fires above Strata Florida near Tregaron was changing all the time and was challenging for crews due to the environment, travel and water supply.

"We've got a quite a large fire front down the other side of the forestry, which equates to approximately five-mile fire front," he said.

"We are quite fortunate. We have got Natural Resources Wales (NRW) representatives at scene. We are accessing water supply from a well that is nearby this actual fire, and obviously we've got the helicopter that can actually access several dams from within the area."

Crews are also dealing with a fire on Dinas Baglan mountain

Mr Jones said the fire above Strata Florida had been burning for two nights and was now into its third day.

Fire crews in Port Talbot are also dealing with a blaze on Dinas Baglan mountain, and asked people living nearby to keep their windows shut.

The cause of the wildfire in Cwm Rheidol, Ceredigion remains unknown

Mr Davies said a property near Cwm Rheidol was warned on Monday evening to pack their belongings for possible evacuation, but the fire crews were able to keep the blaze at bay.

"If it does carry on and the wind picks up, we need urgent action from the emergency services like NRW to supply helicopters," he said.

One helicopter was used to treat both fires, Mr Davies said, which made it increasingly difficult for firefighters.

He said the council were currently working with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the emergency services to make sure residents are safe.

Smoke can be seen at Strata Florida Abbey near Tregaron

Bill Messer, who lives about three miles from the fire, said the situation was "not very pleasant".

"This is the first sun we've had for about 24 hours," he added, explaining how the area had been engulfed in smoke.

Manon Rhys Jones, from Pontrhydfendigaid, said she has noticed ash from the fire on children's clothes.

"We're worried for everyone who's living near to [the Cwm Rheidol] fire."

Ifan Davies, councillor for Tregaron and Ystrad Fflur, said he believed "the fire brigade will be here for a few more days" tackling the fire in the Cwm Rheidol area.

Station commander Emyr Jones says crews were dealing with three different fire fronts on Tuesday afternoon

Speaking on BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast on Tuesday morning, he said he was worried the flames would not be put out soon.

"I believe that every [firefighter] in Ceredigion is trying to control the situation."

Davies said emergency services were waiting for rain.

"Probably nothing will change now until rain comes over the weekend I believe - Sunday," he said.

"So it's a busy and anxious time in the area."

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Tregaron, Lampeter, Rhayader, Llanwrtyd Well, Builth Wells, Llandrindod Wells and Llanidloes Fire Stations were called to reports of a grass fire in Ffair-rhos and asked people to avoid the area.

They asked people only to call 999 if their life is in immediate danger.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said it had two fire crews at the scene of a fire between Trelewis and Bedlinog in Merthyr Tydfil county on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile one appliance was at the scene of another wildfire on Eglwysilian mountain between Pontypridd and Abertridwr.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said a number of smaller incidents have been tackled, including a gorse fire covering 400 square meters near Llanfairfechan in Conwy county and some burning trees on the Vaynol Estate near Bangor.

Both fires are now out.