Several fire crews attended a 30-hectare grass fire yesterday, which is believed to have been started deliberately.

At 4.10pm on Thursday, June 15, the Abercrave, Seven Sisters, Pontardawe, Ammanford, Tumble, Brecon, Neath and Amman Valley crews were called to a grass fire incident at Coelbren, Abercrave.

Approximately 30 hectares of coniferous forestry was destroyed by fire.

Crews tackled the fire by utilising the wildfire helicopter, six hose reel jets, all-terrain vehicle and water bowser. Ground operations contained and suppressed the fire.

The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate.

Station Manager Jeremy Oliver, who attended the incident, said: "The crews worked tirelessly while dealing with this incident and quickly brought a well-developed and dangerous fire under control.  A number of factors worked against the crews at this incident, including challenging terrain and the density of fuel in the form of trees.  I would like to express my thanks to the crews for their commitment and hard work, without their intervention over £2m worth of forestry equipment would have been lost and the fire would have continued to spread rapidly.

“With the exception of some areas of smouldering, the fire was extinguished quickly by the crews, with the assistance of the wildfire helicopter."

Crews left the scene at 9.03pm, and the area was reinspected this morning (Friday). 

The fire had reignited in some areas and crews are currently utilising a drone for aerial inspections