Emergency alert issued for wildfires as military brought in to tackle response

Fire crews are tackling blazes across Wales as the UK government issued a nationwide wildfire alert.

A major incident was declared near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, after dozens of homes were evacuated and roads closed, while residents near a blaze in south Wales said they were "frightened".

An emergency alert was sent to phones in England and Wales on Friday urging people not to start fires, including barbecues.

Meanwhile, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has requested military support to help with the response.

Stephen Kinnock, Secretary of State for Wales, said military personnel had been deployed for logistical support and to help "ease the pressure on the ground".

The UK government issued an emergency alert to phones across England and Wales on Friday evening saying there was "a very high risk of wildfires nationally".

People were urged not to start fires, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks.

"Even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire placing lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk," the alert said.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged people to take the alert "seriously", saying everyone should take "extra care" and not "light any fires in gardens, the countryside or other open spaces, including parks, moorland and wooded areas".

A BBC reporter at the scene of a fire in Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on Friday said residents were "extremely frightened" with one saying the flames came within 30 metres of his house.

Lynn Martin, whose family runs the Llanerchindda Farm Guest House in Llandovery, said fire crews stayed there last night.

"We cooked breakfast for them and then off they went at six this morning," she said.

"We were worried the fire was going to get us. You couldn't see an inch outside the house."

Martin said she was "very concerned" as there are a lot of fields around the guest house.

She said they had lost "several thousand pounds" due to cancelling bookings for this weekend.

"Luckily it meant we could house the fire crews instead. We were going to give the rooms for free but they've offered to pay," she said.

Nerys Jones, community councillor for Rhandirmwyn, described the situation as "scary", saying the fire made its way towards the village.

"Thankfully everyone had somewhere to go, the community have been fantastic," she said, adding it must have been "awful for those asked to leave their homes behind".

Jonathan Stanley, manager of The Kings Head Inn in Llandovery, said people had described hearing the fire from "miles away".

Road closures remain in the Rhandirmwyn area, while councillor Handel Davies said about 17 to 20 houses had been evacuated from two streets in the village as a precaution.

Elidyr Communities Trust, which houses young adults with complex additional learning needs and disabilities, has also been evacuated.

It said all residents and learners in its care were "safe and well" and those who were able to make the journey had been taken away on a holiday this weekend.

"Thank you everyone who has stepped up to help in this extremely difficult and unprecedented situation," it added.

Residents, learners and staff stayed in Llangadoh Community Centre on Thursday.

Carmarthenshire council has set up a rest centre at Llandovery Leisure Centre and said it would remain available throughout the day.

But with the hot weather expected to continue, firefighters are bracing themselves for a busy weekend.

The community around Llandovery has also been offering to help and support to those in need, including a fish and chip shop that has been feeding the firefighters and farmers battling the wildfire, with stables offered to house any horses caught up in the blaze.

Elsewhere, fire services said crews were attending 30 incidents in south Wales on Thursday, with a "significant number of resources" at the scene at Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

South Wales Fires and Rescue said challenging terrain, high temperatures and changing wind conditions continued to make operations difficult.

Police investigating a "deliberate fire" on the mountain near Pleasant Heights, Porth, said on Friday they had arrested four 14-year-old boys from Porth on suspicion of arson. They are on police bail.

Det Insp Steve Jones of South Wales Police said: "These incidents put communities at risk, can impact people's health, threaten wildlife, and divert emergency resources away from people who need us."

Those with information about deliberate fire-setting are urged to contact police or Crimestoppers.

Crews also attended incidents elsewhere in Wales, including in Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where a BBC reporter on the scene said residents were "frightened".

Mark Carmody said the flames came within 30 metres of his house, with firefighters "dousing the back of the building and "damping down the bracken behind the house".

The UK government has also deployed military personnel to help with the response following a request from South Wales Fire and Rescue.

"The Ministry of Defence has authorised this request and is now providing military personnel, who will provide logistical support to help ease the pressure on the ground, support evacuations where needed, and to strengthen the wider emergency response," Kinnock said.

Additional reporting by Meleri Grug Williams