200 Gurkha soldiers deployed to battle south Wales wildfires

About 200 soldiers from the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, backed by 22 Royal Engineers and Royal Logistics Corps personnel along with Army helicopters, have been deployed across south Wales to support firefighting crews tackling a wave of wildfires, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed.

Military helps overwhelmed fire service

Chief Fire Officer Fin Monahan said his service was under severe pressure and praised the contribution of the military as critical in helping crews manage the scale of the operation. "The extra capacity was needed," Monahan told the BBC, describing fire crews from London, Cumbria and several other regions also providing mutual aid. As of Sunday, some 14 separate fires were being tackled across south Wales alone.

"They're doing an utterly phenomenal job digging trenches and helping us build fire breaks," Monahan said of the Gurkha soldiers. He explained that the military's logistical support, particularly water distribution, freed up his specialist firefighters to focus on the most technical aspects of the operation.

14 fires burning across south and mid Wales

The Mid and West Wales Fire Rescue Service was simultaneously dealing with blazes in Rhandirmwyn and Ammanford in Carmarthenshire, as well as near Hay-on-Wye and Brecon in Powys. One fire in Rhandirmwyn expanded to a perimeter of 480 hectares within a pine forest, with flames described as reaching tree height.

Fires also burned in Gorseinon and Tenby, with crews responding to smoke in Llanelli. The wave of wildfires swept across the region on Thursday — the hottest day of the year so far in England and Wales — and crews have been battling conditions without rest, according to fire personnel. The deployment of military support was described by Monahan as a "very serious step" taken jointly by the UK and Welsh governments.