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Don't use 999 to report grass fires, people told

Gavin Thomas
BBC News
BBC A landscape view of charred grassBBC
Fire crews across Wales have been dealing with several wildfires

A fire service has urged people to refrain from calling 999 unless their life or property is in immediate danger following an "exceptionally high number of calls" about grass fires.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said it had responded to over 40 incidents involving grass fires or fires in the open since Monday across six counties.

The service said on Wednesday it was still dealing with a grass fire in Brynberian, Pembrokeshire, which was initially reported on Tuesday morning, as 25mph (40kph) winds caused rapid fire spread.

The Met Office has predicted the warm weather will continue this week after Wales recorded its fourth driest March since records began in 1836.

Five fire crews from Crymych, Fishguard, Lampeter, Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn Fire Stations were called to the incident in Brynberian.

The fire service said it was using wildfire beaters and blowers to manage and extinguish the fire, as well as drones to survey the fire spread, but the blaze had been "especially challenging" for the crew.

Elsewhere, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) said it was dealing with large grass and forestry fires in the Wattsville and Cross Keys area of Caerphilly county.

Residents had been advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service A four by four car can be seen parked on the right. You can see fields on the left that are starting to catch fire and spread. The first plumes of smoke can be seen. In the background, there are grassy hills.Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service
Fire crews have been responding to a high volume of calls in areas such as Brynberian in Crymych

SWFRS said a reinspection of a large fire at Wattsville and Cross Keys took place at first light on Wednesday.

The service said it received 44 calls for the incident and a drone was used.

Crews also dealt with another large incident on the mountain behind a Tesco in Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent, where a reinspection was also due to take place on Wednesday.

The fire service said it received 170 calls from members of the public.

Three firetrucks can be seen on the top of a mountain. Blue skies are in the background.
Firefighters continued to battle a blaze in Brynberian for 24 hours

There were also reports of a fire in forestry at Clydach, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and another at Hirwaun.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said it had dealt with fires at Hebron and Glandwr in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, on Cefn Rhigos and at Llanllwni.

Land can be seen burning on a mountain with an orange blaze burning on the hills and smoke rising to the sky.
Fire and rescue services are attending a number of fires across Wales

In north Wales, fire crews and a wildfire unit were called to a mountain fire in the village of Garndolbenmaen in Gwynedd which first broke out on Monday night.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service also sent a crew to an incident near Harlech in Gwynedd on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, firefighters have left the scene of a large fire near the Arfon transmitting station near Nebo in Gwynedd.