Firefighters tackling grass and recycling fires across Wales

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Fire at recycling plant in Milford HavenImage source, Pembrokeshire Herald
Image caption,

Police are asking people to avoid the area around the recycling plant fire in Milford Haven

About 100 firefighters are dealing with a fire at a recycling centre.

Dyfed-Powys Police said multiple agencies were now involved in trying to set up a plan to extinguish the blaze "in the next few days".

Motorists are asked to avoid the area near the centre at Waterston, near Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. Residents are asked to stay indoors with the windows closed.

Crews are also dealing with a large number of grass fires across Wales.

The police force said a large storage unit had been destroyed by the Waterston fire, which broke out at about 14:00 BST on Sunday and has spread to an adjacent waste recycling centre.

A spokesperson said crews were working to extinguish the fire at both locations and mitigate further spread.

The B4325 road is closed, and motorists have been asked to avoid the area

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service had about 100 staff at the scene on Sunday night, with 14 appliances and specialist assets including a drone to help tactical officers tackling the blaze.

There have been no injuries, and there are no particular concerns for any nearby dwellings, so no evacuations are being considered at this time, the police spokesperson said.

But they added: "Significant smoke is billowing from the scene of the fire, and residents in the Johnston, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock, and Neyland areas as well as the other side of the estuary are advised to keep windows and doors closed, and remain indoors until further notice."

Firefighters also attended Newgale beach, in Pembrokeshire, when fire broke out on a hillside there.

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Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas said: "Crews have worked extremely hard tackling the fire in hot and challenging conditions, to mitigate against the effects to the environment and from a public health perspective.

"Crews are also attending a large grass fire in Newgale, meaning approximately 20 appliances have been in attendance in the area tackling fires. This has placed a great deal of strain on our local resources."

Meanwhile, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, a serious fire closed the Rhigos Mountain Pass.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the mountain fire had melted fencing on the roadside, allowing boulders to fall onto the roadway. The road has been closed until further notice.

The service added that there were several hotspots that were inaccessible and the fire had been left to burn out, with the fire service due to check on the blaze periodically throughout the night.

Image source, Tommy Laroche
Image caption,

Firefighters were dealing with fires across south and mid Wales, including this one on a hillside near Newgale beach

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council warned people to not attempt to cross the mountain road under any circumstances. They said the damage created a significant danger to road users and they hope to provide a further update on Monday.

Elsewhere in south-east Wales there was a blaze in the open at Duffryn, near Newport, another at Abercarn, in Caerphilly county, another at Devauden, in Monmouthshire and another in Sebastapol, in Torfaen.

There was also a grassfire at Maidenhall Point, in Pembrokeshire.

In mid Wales there was a fire near the main road between Welshpool and Montgomery, in Powys.