It's currently blowing a bit here. The ground is pretty dry. Temps are high 20's, humidity is way down. A good/bad day for a bushfire.

Aaaand right on cue.... there is a grass fire up the road. 🔥

The whole valley is suddenly paying attention.😯

#FarmLife #GrassFire

Fire crews tackle Kilvey Hill blaze as wildfire risks persist

The blaze, reported at 6.50pm on Sunday 13 July, involved two separate seats of fire, one measuring approximately 200m x 200m, the other 200m x 150m, and affected large swathes of gorse, trees and undergrowth. Crews from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service used knapsack sprayers, blowers and beaters to extinguish the flames, leaving the scene by 9.28pm.

This latest incident follows a 12-hectare fire in April that required multiple crews and extended dampening down efforts across the hillside. That earlier blaze prompted renewed calls for vigilance and raised concerns about the impact on wildlife habitats and community safety.

A hill under pressure

Kilvey Hill has long been a focal point for both conservation and development. The site is currently earmarked for the Skyline Swansea leisure destination, a £35–£40 million project led by New Zealand-based Skyline Enterprises. Plans include a gondola lift, zipline, luge runs, sky swing, and hilltop restaurant, with developers pledging to retain and improve public access across the hill.

Skyline says the attraction will occupy approximately 9% of Kilvey Hill, with existing walking trails upgraded, new mountain biking routes added, and a free adventure playground introduced. The company has committed to a net biodiversity gain, including the planting of 122 mature trees and 68,000 shrubs and saplings, in consultation with Natural Resources Wales.

However, the development has faced opposition from campaigners and environmental groups, who argue that the scale of the project could disrupt the hill’s ecology and community use. Critics point to the hill’s designation as a quiet area and its role as a green space for East Swansea residents, many of whom lack access to other countryside areas.

Skyline maintains that free, unhindered access will continue, and that the project will open up the hill to a wider cross-section of the public, including those with mobility challenges.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Firefighters continue to dampen down 12-hectare Kilvey Hill fire
Crews battle extensive blaze across the hillside, prompting safety warnings and community concern.

Council approves plan for Skyline development
Swansea Council backs leisure attraction on Kilvey Hill, despite objections and ecological concerns.

Developer says retained access part of Kilvey Hill Skyline leisure destination proposals
Skyline Enterprises pledges to maintain public access and enhance trails as part of its plans.

Wildfire risks and community safety

The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service continues to urge caution through its #WildfireWise campaign, which aims to reduce the number of grass fires across Wales. In 2024, crews responded to 977 grass fire incidents, with deliberate fires down 44% compared to the previous year.

The campaign encourages residents to report suspicious activity, avoid risky behaviours like outdoor burning, and take extra care during dry conditions. The service also works with landowners to promote safe land management practices and biodiversity-friendly burning techniques.

Andrew Wright, Chair of the Wales Wildfire Board, said:

“We want to work with our communities, farmers, and landowners to share our knowledge and understanding of the effect that both deliberate and accidental fires have on our communities.

Controlled burns can have a positive effect on the environment, but they must be done safely and within legal guidelines.”

For more on wildfire safety and prevention, visit the #WildfireWise campaign page.

#fire #grassFire #KilveyHill #MidAndWestWalesFireAndRescueService #Swansea #WildfireWise

Late-night Glyncorrwg grass fire started deliberately say fire service

The six hectare, or almost 15 acre grassfire was started late on Monday evening (28 April) and saw firefighters spend around two hours tackling the blaze with beaters and blowers.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 11.06pm on Monday, April 28th, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Cymmer and Neath Fire Stations were called to an incident in Glyncorrwg in Cymmer.

“Supported by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, crews responded to a grass fire involving approximately six hectares of grassland. Crews utilised beaters and blowers to extinguish the fire. Crews left the scene at 1.02am on Tuesday, April 29th.

“It is believed that this fire was started deliberately.”

Devastating grass fires have dominated the headlines in recent weeks, along with some high-profile arson attacks on empty buildings such as Port Talbot’s Bethany English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel.

The fire service added that: “Arson is a serious criminal offence which can potentially cause large-scale damage and even loss of life. 

“Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has a variety of arson reduction and fire setting prevention programmes to protect the communities it serves.”

#Arson #Cymmer #Glyncorrwg #grassFire #MidAndWestWalesFireAndRescueService

Firefighters continue to dampen down 12 hectare Kilvey Hill fire

Firefighters from 10 stations across Swansea, Carmathenshire and Neath Port Talbot were called to the massive grass fire on Kilvey Hill just before 10pm on Wednesday night (9 April).

Firefighters are still damping down the scorched hillside over 12 hours later.

South Wales Police urged people to keep their windows and doors closed and to avoid the area where possible.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 21:47pm on 9th April, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called to reports of a grassfire at Kilvey Hill, Swansea.

“Crews from Swansea Central, Swansea West, Ammanford, Port Talbot, Morriston, Reynoldston, Pontardulais, Neath, Gorseinon and Pontardawe Fire Stations were in attendance. 

“At it’s height the grassfire, covering an area of grass and gorse was 12 hectares,  fire crews utilised a ground monitor and drone, and sectorised the fire.  Then continued to extinguish the fire using a number of main jets and hose reel jets.  

“Crews remain on scene to dampen down and monitor.” 

The fire service say that it has attended 192 grass fires in the past week, with 13 of those over 10 hectares or 25 acres in size.

The fire service spokesperson added that: “Such large-scale incidents require extensive resources and coordination to manage effectively.”

Plans for a new leisure destination by New Zealand company Skyline were recently approved by city planners on Kilvey Hill.

(Lead image: Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service)

#grassFire #KilveyHill #MidAndWestWalesFireAndRescueService #Swansea

Firefighters tackle grass fires as far as 100 hectares wide in Gower twice in one day

A crimson scene lit up the sky for miles as crews tackled the fires, one just before dawn and the second 12 hours later.

The first was dealt with the crews dividing themselves into two sectors between them to bring the blaze under control.

They remained there for almost five hours, using beaters and backpack blowers to extinguish the flames.

The evening fire (lead image) could be seen as far as parts of Llanelli with local residents of Three Crosses and Upper Killay concerned with the rapid spread of the blaze.

Road closures were put in place in the area at just before dusk as two fire units tackled the fire which the cause of has yet to be disclosed.

In a separate incident, crews were also called to a blaze near Pontardawe Road, in Ammanford where 15 hectares were on fire, but the blaze has since been put out.

Images show the extent of the blaze on Mynydd y Betws which borders Carmarthenshire and Swansea.

Firefighters attended the scene with two fire engines shortly before 2am on Wednesday, February. It took around two hours to control the fire, which covered an area of around 25 acres. A Spokesperson said the cause of the Betws fire was “unknown”.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire Service speaking over the Gower fires said:

“At 5.15am on Tuesday, February 18, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Gorseinon, Pontarddulais, Reynoldston, Swansea Central and Swansea West fire stations were called to an incident in Cefn Bryn, Gower.

“The crews responded to a grass fire covering approximately 100 hectares. The incident was sectorised into two sectors and crews utilised beaters and backpack blowers to extinguish the fire. Crew members left the scene at 9am.”

The Fire Service this morning added:

“At 17:31 on Tuesday, 18th February, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Reynoldston, Swansea West and Morriston Fire Stations were called to an incident in the Reynoldston area, Swansea.

“The crews responded to a grass fire covering approximately 50 hectares. The crews utilised beater blowers, two hose reel jets and one wildfire unit to extinguish the fire.

“Road closures were put in place in the area at 17:53.

“Crews left the scene at 20:51.”

[Lead image: Mid and West Wales Fire Service]

#CefnBryn #featured #grassFire #MidAndWestWalesFireAndRescueService

Firefighters tackle Fire 100 hectares wide in Gower

Five crews for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service tackled a 100-hectare grass fire over Cefn Bryn just before dawn this morning, Tuesday 18 February.

A crimson scene lit up the sky for miles as crews tackled the fire divided into two sectors between them to bring the blaze under control.

They remained there for almost five hours, using beaters and backpack blowers to extinguish the flames.

The fire service are yet to disclose what started the blaze.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire Service said:

“At 5.15am on Tuesday, February 18, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Gorseinon, Pontarddulais, Reynoldston, Swansea Central and Swansea West fire stations were called to an incident in Cefn Bryn, Gower.

“The crews responded to a grass fire covering approximately 100 hectares. The incident was sectorised into two sectors and crews utilised beaters and backpack blowers to extinguish the fire. Crew members left the scene at 9am.”

[Lead image: Mid and West Wales Fire Service]

#CefnBryn #grassFire #MidAndWestWalesFireAndRescueService

Multiple #Nebraska fire departments are responding to a #grassfire near North 190th Street and Mill Road, just southwest of #Greenwood.

The Village of Greenwood is asked to shelter in place.

> https://www.wowt.com/2024/10/17/live-large-grass-fire-near-greenwood-prompts-evacuations-highway-6-closure/