Hope of Progress in Battle Against South Wales Wildfire

## Firefighters Battle Against Unprecedented Wildfire A massive wildfire in south Wales has been burning for over three weeks, with emergency workers and soldiers working tirelessly to bring it under control. The fire has spread over 4,000 hectares, putting lives, farmland, and property at risk. The South Wales fire and rescue service has asked for military support, the first UK military deployment to deal with wildfires since 2018. The fire is particularly challenging due to the deep-seated peat fire that is burning underground, making it difficult to extinguish. Jamie Windsor, a group commander at Ebbw Vale station, explained that the peat burns very deep and doesn't cool down at night, causing the fire to pop up again in different areas. ## Military Support and Firefighting Efforts Soldiers from the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment have been working alongside firefighters to dig firebreaks and turn over smoking soil to minimize the spread of the fire. A civilian-contracted helicopter has been picking up water from a huge plastic pool and circling to dowse reigniting pockets of the smouldering hillside. Firefighters from services around the UK have come to help improvise how to get water to hard-to-reach places. The combined efforts of emergency workers and soldiers have saved houses in Blaenavon, a village on the hillside. Residents on Llanover Close, a road on the village boundary, have watched a steady stream of fire engines, water tankers, tractors, and other emergency vehicles and equipment go back and forth to the forestry track above their homes. ## Climate Change and Arson Concerns The UK has experienced multiple heatwaves this summer, as climate breakdown makes extreme heat, drought, and wildfires more likely. Arson has been a major contributor to this summer's fires, with arrests made in relation to several incidents. The cause of the Blaenavon fire is still unknown, but it is believed to be one of many wildfires across the country that have been caused by arson. The Met Office has said that the UK is on course for its hottest summer on record by average temperature, and the Blaenavon fire and many others across the country may only finally settle with cooler temperatures and rain. However, the onset of autumn and more rainfall is not guaranteed to reverse the drought conditions, the Met Office said. In Blaenavon, flash flooding has plagued residents in recent years, and an 89-year-old resident of Llanover Close expressed his concern about the potential for both fire and flood in the area. The supercharged El Niño is predicted to bring wet and stormy conditions to the UK this winter, but for now, the battle against the wildfire continues.