Fire crews have been monitoring a large grass fire which is continuing to burn in an area on the southern edge of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) crews were called to the fire at Hirwaun yesterday evening (Wednesday) at around 8.55pm.

The blaze, which spanned approximately 23 hectares, was already well alight when fire crews arrived.

Three separate seats of fire were burning across an area of approximately four and a half miles.

Given its remote location and the fact that no properties were under immediate threat, the decision was made to allow the fire to burn out naturally. Fire crews left the scene at 10:50pm.

Fire crews continued to monitor the situation throughout today (Thursday). While some areas have burned themselves out, parts of the fire continue to burn.

MAWWFRS has recently experienced a surge in emergency calls related to grass fires. The service is urging residents only to call 999 if they or their property are in immediate danger, allowing resources to be managed effectively.

In recent incidents, MAWWFRS crews have utilised drone technology and thermal imaging to enhance firefighter safety and provide real-time situational awareness. This technology enables incident commanders to assess fire spread and allocate resources more effectively, ultimately reducing the risk to both communities and the environment.

The fire service has also issued a warning to the public, urging private drone users to avoid flying over fire scenes. The presence of unauthorised drones can disrupt official drone operations, posing safety risks to firefighters and potentially hampering firefighting efforts.

MAWWFRS has recently launched its #WildfireWise campaign as part of the Wales Wildfire Board initiative. The campaign aims to educate the public on wildfire prevention and encourage responsible behaviour when enjoying the countryside.