The Chief Fire Officer (CFO) of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) has praised the hard work of staff following a significant rise in grass fires during the recent dry weather.

CFO Roger Thomas commended the resilience and teamwork shown by operational crews and Joint Fire Control (JFC) Centre operators. In the past fortnight, crews have responded to more than 250 grass fires across the region.

“The recent surge in the number of grass fires has put immense pressure on our resources, yet our staff have all demonstrated the professionalism, resilience and teamwork that define our Service,” said Mr Thomas.

“Our staff have also shown their continued commitment to protecting the communities we serve.

“Their tireless efforts, often in extreme and challenging conditions, have not gone unnoticed by myself, the Executive Leadership Team and Members of our Fire Authority.”

Operators at the JFC Centre, which is shared with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, also faced a significant increase in demand during this period. In one particularly challenging 24-hour stretch, the team responded to more than 1,000 calls.

Head of the JFC Centre, Group Manager Natalie Pearce, said: “Everyone in the Control Room pulled together during this challenging time.

“JFC staff demonstrated their hard work and commitment by working extra hours and responding to recall-to-duty requests, which allowed us to better manage busy periods when our calls increased five-fold.”

Among the notable incidents, a grass fire in Ponterwyd near Aberystwyth on March 6 affected four hectares of land. In Rhaeadr on March 19, a fire spread across 50 hectares of bracken and trees. On March 20, a fire in Cwmdu, Crickhowell, burned an area of 300 metres by 500 metres. A fire in Cymmer on March 23 affected 20 hectares of grass, brush, and small trees.