Massive wildfires engulf parts of Wales as public urged to stay away

Oliver Partridge
Fri, 01 May 2026 17:30:50 +0000

Fire crews are continuing to fight wildfires which have ravaged parts of rural Wales since last weekend as they urge the public to stay away.

Crews are now in their third day of battling an escalating wildfire in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, while other fires in the Elan Valley area have been burning since Sunday.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the fire in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park started on Wednesday afternoon, rapidly tearing through 20 square kilometres of conservation land.

Forests, peat, and grassland have been decimated, with various all-terrain vehicles and drones sent to assist emergency response operations.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

The fire service said it is working with the National Trust, Natural Resources Wales and South Wales Police to coordinate an efficient response and reduce the spread of the flames.

Meanwhile, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have spent almost an entire week tackling dangerous wildfires in the Elan Valley area.

The area is a crucial conservation zone for supporting vulnerable nesting birds, small mammals and rare plants - all of which have had their habitat upheaved.

In this challenging operation, a targeted water helicopter was deployed to suppress fires in difficult-to-access areas, such as Claerwen Dam and Teifi Pools.

Hafod estate, a National Trust site near Pontarfynach (Devil’s Bridge), has been closed until further notice.

Official advice has been issued to members of the public in the region, urging them to keep doors and windows closed if affected by smoke

Further guidance implores prospective visitors to avoid the area entirely and to not attempt to access affected locations.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Fire at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral as crews tell residents and tourists to 'stay away'

Thousands evacuated from homes in Plymouth as bomb disposal team work to disarm explosive

Man, 66, charged with several offences including attempted murder after attack on police station

Fire crews asked people to refrain from walking and outdoor activities in the surrounding areas, including Pen y Fan.

The service said the cause of the raging blaze is currently unknown, but noted how periods of dry weather and strong winds can increase the risk of wildfires.

In a statement, Natural Resources Wales said: “With conditions forecast to remain dry over the coming days, Wales is now entering an elevated risk period for wildfires.

"While teams will continue to work around the clock to protect people, nature and property, NRW is also reminding people of the devastating consequences lighting fires and using disposable BBQs can have on the environment."

Last year was the worst on record for wildfires in the UK, according to the Global Wildfire Information System.

By November, wildfires had burned 116,204 acres across the UK - the largest area in any year since records began in 2012, and more than double the area burned in the record-breaking summer heat of 2022.