BETTER hillside management, more surveillance and education were discussed as ways of putting a stop to the spate of arsons that have devastated hillsides across South Wales.

First minister Carwyn Jones and other ministers met representatives from the fire service, police, councils, the Met Office and Natural Resources Wales at a summit meeting in Cardiff yesterday aimed at stopping the destruction, unusually high this April.

Public services minister Leighton Andrews said after the meeting: “I think everybody has been very heartened by the strong community response. People in the South Wales Valleys in particular are standing up and saying, ‘These fires are unacceptable’. They want to see action.”

He said people were coming forward to report arsonists, and volunteering to patrol the hillsides alongside the fire service themselves.

One possibility of harnessing the support is to develop a scheme of watching out for fires similar to the Neighbourhood Watch scheme, when people look out for and report any problems.

Cutting back the undergrowth or putting in fire breaks might also help mitigate the effects of the fires, he said, as well as potentially strengthening surveillance techniques available to police.

Mr Andrews said it was not only youths who set the fires: “Police have arrested and interviewed some young people but they have also arrested and interviewed people in their 20s, 30s and 50s this year. It’s quite a wide range of people.”

He added the reasons were not always apparent: “Perhaps people feel when the fire starts it gives them control or power, a sense of devilment. It appears to be deeply cultural and has gone on for years.”

The summit meeting was “very positive”, he added. “Nobody is in any doubt about the seriousness with which the Welsh Government takes these issues. We will be ensuring these issues are taken forward. We will certainly keep the law in this area under review.”

South Wales fire chief Huw Jakeway said: “Deliberate grass fires are an act of arson, which is a serious crime and we work closely with both police services to bring those responsible to justice.”

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Today’s summit was an important step in continuing the collaborative work needed to reduce this dangerous, destructive and criminal behaviour.

“While the number of deliberate grass fires is declining in the long term, since the start of April we have seen a significant number across Wales, especially in South Wales."