South Wales firefighters tackle 80 deliberate fires this weekend as authorities appeal to the public | UK News

South Wales firefighters have battled nearly 80 ‘deliberate’ fires over the weekend, as authorities are calling on the public to help prevent the wildfires.

South Wales Police said “many acres of wildlife and our beautiful landscape” were lost following a wave of grass fires over the weekend.

The fire department said it witnessed “nearly 80 deliberate bushfires from Friday to Sunday”.

One incident saw a blaze burn near a fire station in Abercarn, Gwent, the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.

The fire near the station put essential workers and facilities at risk.

Another fire was measured over more than 11 hectares and posed a danger to livestock and property.

Fire crews spent four consecutive days at Machen Mountain in Caerphilly attempting to contain a blaze that spanned 50 acres of grassland.

Most of the fires required specialized equipment, including helicopters, fire departments working with police and environmental agency Natural Resources Wales.

Dean Loader, responsible for community safety and partnerships at the fire department, said some fires were “incredibly demanding” as crews attempted to limit the impact on communities, landscape and wildlife.

“The diversion of our resources to deal with deliberate fires will draw fundamental and valuable resources away from our communities, thereby putting unnecessary risks to life,” he said.

“It has to stop.”