Firefighters still battling dozens of wildfires

Firefighters have been dealing with dozens of wildfires across Wales overnight.

Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue said crews had dealt with 86 grass fires between Thursday and Friday.

A number of south Wales crews were sent to a grass fire at Pengarnddu, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, which was first reported at 15:45 GMT and had a fire front of around four to five Kilometres (2.48 to 3.1 miles).

South and mid Wales crews are tackling fires at Dowlais, Glyncorrwg, Llanfair Caereinion and Crickhowell and others which were left to burn overnight are being re-inspected.

As of 07:00 GMT, North Wales crews were still tackling three fires at Carrog near Corwen, Denbighshire, at Talysarn near Mynydd Cilgwyn, and a new one which only started in the morning at Mynydd Llandygai Bethesda in Gwynedd.

More than 20 firefighters, including a specialist wildfire unit, were also still tackling a large wildfire at Trefriw in Conwy county at 21:30 GMT, which was first reported at 16:47.

Another "significant fire" was reported above Troedyrhiw Terrace, Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, which will be left to burn overnight as the conditions are unsafe to tackle the fire in the dark.

Eddy Blanche, Darren valley community councillor in Caerphilly borough, said fires on common land have had "a devastating effect on wildlife as well as putting the safety of the public and members of fire service at risk".

"There were reports on social media of horses with young foals seen fleeing the flames and having to be let out of fields onto the roads," he said.

The wildfires across the country follow several dry and sunny days, but the conditions are expected to become unsettled over the weekend as a low pressure system moves in from the south west.

A majority of the other incidents reported have only required a single fire appliance, but control rooms have been inundated with calls, often repeats to the same incident.

In north Wales, firefighters have been dealing with a large wildfire in the Carrog area near Corwen, Denbighshire, which can be seen for many miles.

Residents in the Trawsfynydd and Bronaber areas of Gwynedd are being urged to keep windows and doors closed due to a large amount of smoke from a separate grass fire.

It is the second in the area this week.

In a statement, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service reminded landowners carrying out controlled burns to do so responsibly and to always inform fire officers in advance.

Olivia Hirst, 20, from Merthyr Tydfil, said a large fire erupted on the mountains surrounding her farm in Pontsticill at about 16:00 on Thursday.

While the cause of the fire remains unknown, Ms Hirst suspects it may have been triggered by scramblers as their "tracks are everywhere" in the area.

Firefighters were transported to the scene on the farm's quad bikes, where they managed to prevent the blaze from spreading toward the farm.

However, the fire continues to burn.

Ms Hirst said: "It is very stressful when we get fires on the mountain any time of the year but especially now when there is livestock on the mountain that are due to lamb in the next couple of weeks.

"It's so scary as it's completely out of control.

"We are just so frustrated."