One unfortunate result of Wales enjoying glorious sunshine in recent weeks is the increasing spate of wildfires seen across the country. Fire crews typically see a huge spike in grass and wildfires as the weather improves during spring and summer, and so far 2023 has been no different.
At the beginning of May, firefighters spent more than four hours dealing with a huge mountain blaze near Ton Pentre in the Rhondda Valley. That was just one of several incidents reported across Wales in May, leading one official to state that: “There are some within our communities who are deliberately setting fire to our countryside - not only is this a crime, for which they will be prosecuted, but it also places unnecessary pressure on front line services and puts our communities in harm’s way.”
The Met Office provide maps for the whole of Wales and England that show which areas are most likely to be badly affected by wildfires. According to the Met Office, the Fire Severity Index (FSI) “is an assessment of how severe a fire could become if one were to start. It is not an assessment of the risk of wildfires occurring”.
