NEW long-term plan follows landmark engagement process as 2025 wildfire figures hit record high

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has unveiled a new long-term strategy to tackle the growing threat of wildfires, following what it described as a landmark engagement process involving firefighters, land managers, partner agencies and community representatives.

The Service said the plan comes in response to a sharp rise in wildfire incidents across the region, driven by climate change, land-use pressures and deliberate fire-setting, with costs and risks to public and firefighter safety continuing to escalate.

The approach was shaped through a series of “Balanced Room” workshops, designed to give equal weight to operational staff, external partners and community voices. Fire chiefs say this collaborative process helped identify practical solutions to one of the most persistent risks facing rural Wales.

Wildfires on the rise

According to figures released by the Service, around sixty-five per cent of wildfires in Mid and West Wales are started deliberately, based on a ten-year average. Grass fire incidents have fluctuated sharply in recent years, with 1,224 recorded in 2022 — one of the worst years on record — before falling to 671 in 2023 and 381 in 2024, largely due to wetter weather.

However, 2025 has already seen 1,257 incidents, surpassing the 2022 total and making it the highest figure in recent years. The Service has also reported 102 vehicle accidents linked to wildfire response in 2024/25, adding further pressure to already stretched budgets.

Fire officers warned that although wet conditions can suppress fires in the short term, unmanaged vegetation increases fuel loads, creating greater danger during future dry spells.

Agreed priorities

Through two in-person workshops and a follow-up online session, participants tested a wide range of ideas against safety, legal and financial criteria. Five key principles were agreed to guide future decisions: collaboration and partnership; prevention first; specialist capability and consistency; learning and continuous improvement; and deliverability aligned with national policy.

From this, a shorter list of options was developed for formal appraisal and consideration by senior leaders.

The refined proposals cover the full wildfire cycle — prevention, protection, response and recovery — and include a cross-cutting focus on improved communications and data sharing to support real-time decision-making.

Other proposals include expanded public education and behaviour-change campaigns, closer engagement with farmers and land managers, the use of technology such as drones and satellite mapping to identify risk, and improvements to firefighter equipment, welfare and specialist training.

The plan also explores the development of specialist wildfire teams, more flexible vehicles suited to rural terrain, collaborative aerial firefighting capability, and structured post-incident follow-up to reduce repeat fires.

Next steps

The options have now been appraised and presented to the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Executive Leadership Team. Discussions are focusing on how the measures should be prioritised and phased, and how they will be embedded within the Service’s Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2040.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Iwan Cray said the process demonstrated the value of joint working.

He said: “This process has shown the power of collaboration. By listening to our staff, partners and communities, we’ve developed practical, innovative options that will strengthen our ability to prevent and respond to wildfires.

“Together, we can build a safer, more resilient Wales.”

A 28-YEAR-OLD Carmarthen man is to appear in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a fatal collision in Carmarthenshire which claimed the life of a 38-year-old dog walker.

Aaron Jones died after being struck by a vehicle in Llanpumsaint on Monday (Dec 23), 2024, while he was out walking his dog.

Daniel Wyke, aged 28, from Carmarthen, was arrested the following day. He has now been charged with one count of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of dangerous driving.

Wyke is due to appear before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jan 15), 2026.

The charges follow what police have described as a lengthy investigation by the Serious Collision Investigation Unit.

Sergeant Sara John said: “Our thoughts remain with Aaron’s family, who continue to be at the heart of this investigation.

“We recognise that this has been a lengthy investigation, and I am grateful to Aaron’s family, and the wider community, for their patience and support while our enquiries have been carried out.

“We will continue to support Aaron’s family as the case progresses, and we seek to provide justice for Aaron and his loved ones.”

Police confirmed that Aaron’s family have asked for privacy at this time.

The collision sent shockwaves through the Llanpumsaint community, with residents previously expressing concern about road safety in the area following the tragedy.

The case will continue through the courts.

POLICE in Pembrokeshire are deploying forensic DNA spray as part of a targeted operation to tackle dangerous and antisocial riding on illegal e-bikes and e-scooters.

Dyfed-Powys Police have begun a series of enforcement operations using SelectaDNA – a forensic spray containing a unique code that can be traced to a specific location, date and time.

Traditionally used to mark property at risk of theft, the spray is now being used to identify individuals and vehicles involved in illegal riding, particularly where offenders attempt to conceal their identities.

The operations follow a sharp rise in complaints, particularly across south Pembrokeshire. Police received 60 reports over a six-month period, with 92 per cent of callers raising concerns about antisocial or dangerous riding. Many reports involved riders wearing face coverings.

Across the Dyfed-Powys force area, officers have seized 19 e-bikes and 28 e-scooters during recent enforcement activity.

The crackdown involves neighbourhood policing and prevention teams, response officers, the force intelligence bureau, the roads policing unit and drone operators, with patrols focused on areas of highest community concern.

Inspector Celt Thomas said officers had received specialist training before the operation began.

“Ahead of the operation, officers were trained in the use of SelectaDNA, which is a spray containing a quantity of unique DNA,” he said.

“It can be used to tag people, e-bikes, scooters or motorbikes, and can pinpoint offenders to a specific location, date and time.

“If offenders are later identified or brought into custody following an incident, their bikes, clothing or even they themselves can be forensically examined and evidentially linked to an offence.”

During the first operation in Pembroke Dock, an illegal e-bike rider was stopped and arrested on suspicion of failing to stop for police, dangerous driving, possession of controlled drugs, drug driving and having no insurance.

The e-bike, which officers said had been heavily modified and was worth between £4,000 and £6,000, was seized and is set to be destroyed.

PC Stuart Gray warned parents to think carefully before buying e-scooters for children this Christmas.

“E-scooters and bikes pose serious safety risks for children, including accidents and injuries,” he said.

“We urge parents to prioritise their child’s wellbeing and consider safer, more appropriate alternatives.”

Inspector Thomas said police would continue to take firm action.

“These riders are causing a huge amount of concern in the area due to their dangerous behaviour and intimidating appearance, and we are committed to resolving the issue,” he said.

“We will continue to target these groups over the coming months and are confident these operations will have positive results.

“We urge members of the community who have information about anyone riding illegally or antisocially to contact us.”

Anyone with information can contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.