UPDATE: 8.42pm
South Wales Fire Service is leaving the fire at Machen mountain to burn overnight and will be returning to reinspect in the morning.
The fire on Machen Mountain is being allowed to burn safely overnight. Thanks for all the calls. We are aware of flames & smoke on mountain
— SW Fire & Rescue (@SWFireandRescue) April 20, 2015
UPDATE: 7.12pm
Laura Barnes took this photo of a helicopter filling up water for the fire on Machen mountain
UPDATE: 7.05pm
Crews now being released from Machen Mountain incident 150-200 hectares were well alight. Helicopter used at incident. #SWControl NR
— SW Fire & Rescue (@SWFireandRescue) April 20, 2015
UPDATE: 5.36pm
@southwalesargus Putting fire out on Machen mountain pic.twitter.com/kePqgT6cby
— Tracy B (@MrsChunkie) April 20, 2015
UPDATE: 4.28pm
South Wales Fire and Rescue has thanked everyone for their support as they deal with a number of grass fires.
A spokesman said: "We would like to thank you all for the overwhelming support that you have shown, offering your support and best wishes to everyone dealing with the deliberately set fires over the past weeks.
"It means a great deal to the firefighters, their families, the communities that have been affected and to us all at the South Wales Fire Service."
UPDATE: 4.03pm
Aberbargoed crew are attending a grass fire in Ynysddu received at 15.52
— Jennie Griffiths (@GriffithsJECtrl) April 20, 2015
UPDATE: 3.37pm
Update Abertridwr: Grass fire now extinguished after being deliberately set on fire
— Jennie Griffiths (@GriffithsJECtrl) April 20, 2015
UPDATE: 2.53pm
Abercarn are attending a grass fire in Cwmcarn received at 14.34
— Jennie Griffiths (@GriffithsJECtrl) April 20, 2015
UPDATE: 2.45pm
Nasty looking fire up on risca side of machen mountain pic.twitter.com/HmvaS67CMG
— Matt (@BigWelshBear) April 20, 2015
UPDATE: 12.53pm
South Wales Fire and Rescue say they have had over 200 calls about the fire on Machen Mountain,
A spokeswoman said that while they were grateful for the public calling, their 999 lines are now overloaded with reports of this fire.
UPDATE: 8.30am
Risca and Abertillery crews fought the first fire on Machen Mountain at 8.55pm for 90 minutes using beaters.
Risca crew fought a second deliberately lit fire on Machen Mountain on the Crosskeys side involving half an acre of grass and bracken at 11.41pm.
Since Friday morning South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has taken 1,947 999 calls - more than 80 per cent were for grass fires.
UPDATE: 8.12am
Reader pictures of the grass fire on Machen Mountain:
@GriffithsJECtrl The view of Machen Mountain taken from Risca Railway Station 20mins ago pic.twitter.com/AH4cqtJhRG
— Risca Blues (@GarrySparks) April 20, 2015
Pics of the fire on Machen mountain throughout the night. @GriffithsJECtrl pic.twitter.com/30pCco85Lx
— Linda Jefferies (@angelweb66) April 20, 2015
UPDATE: 6.18am
FIRE fighters tackled a small grass fire in Risca last night.
A crew from Risca attended to Machen Mountain at 8.55pm last night to put out a grass fire. They were joined by a 4x4 from Abertillery and left the scene at around 11pm.
A South Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said they will be re-inspecting the area this morning.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel