- Wales
- 5 updates
Large grass fire breaks out in Sirhowy Valley
Fire crews are currently tackling a large grass fire that's spread to 250 hectares of land in Wattsville. Firefighters across the south Wales valleys spent much of today tackling grass fires around the region.
Live updates
Police make 11 arrests and tracing another nine
Officers investigating a series of grass fires throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil have made a number of arrests and enquiries are ongoing to trace other suspects says South Wales Police.
In total, 11 arrests have been made, and four of those individuals voluntarily attended the police station for questioning following police enquiries and public appeals.
- One adult has been charged
- One adult has been cautioned
- No further action has been taken against six children
- No further action has been taken against one adult
- One child has been bailed pending further enquiries
- One child has been bailed and will be dealt with through Restorative Justice process
- Enquiries are ongoing to trace a further nine suspects – seven of those are children and have agreed to voluntarily attend their nearest police station.
In total, 11 arrests have been made, and four of those individuals voluntarily attended the police station for questioning following police enquiries and public appeals.
- ITV Report
More children and adults arrested over grass fires
Advertisement
Dramatic images taken as Wattsville fire spreads
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service says the fire in the Sirhowy Valley has devastated 300 hectares of forest and grassland.
Scores of firefighters have been tackling the blaze at Wattsville which will be left to burn until later this morning when the area can be assessed from the air.
At one stage it threatened nearby homes.
It is thought to have been started deliberately. People can call 101 if they saw saw something suspicious.
Wattsville fire spread to 250 hectares
A large grass fire involving 250 hectares of land has broken out in the Sirhowy Valley.
Emergency services have closed the main road into Wattsville.
Crews say eleven appliances are in attendance.
Fire crews tackle 140 hectare grass fire in Wattsville
South Wales Fire Service has closed the only road going through a village near Blackwood while firefighters tackle a large fire.
The fire service has deployed appliances to a mountain near Wattsville, where 140 hectares of trees and bracken are alight.
South Wales Fire Service says it has dealt with more than 700 grass fires since the beginning of April, the majority of which were deliberately started.
Four youths aged between 12 and 14 were arrested in Maerdy on Sunday evening and have since been bailed pending further enquiries.
Latest ITV News reports
-
More children and adults arrested over grass fires
South Wales Police says it has arrested both adults and children over the last 24 hours in connection with the starting of grass fires.