Wildfires in Llandovery force people from their homes

Up to 20 homes have been evacuated and roads are closed after a wildfire broke out in Carmarthenshire.

A major incident has been declared near Llandovery as crews tackle flames for a third day across about 250 hectares of land.

A guest house has cancelled its weekend bookings and given rooms to firefighters instead, while residents at a flare-up in south Wales said they were “frightened”.

Meanwhile, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has requested military support to strengthen wildfire response.

Stephen Kinnock, Secretary of State for Wales, said military personnel had been deployed to provide logistical support and help “ease the pressure on the ground”.

A BBC reporter at the scene of a flare-up in Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on Friday said residents were “extremely frightened” with one saying the flames came within 30 metres of his house.

Lynn Martin, whose family runs the Llanerchindda Farm Guest House in Llandovery, said fire crews stayed there last night.

“We cooked breakfast for them and then off they went at six this morning,” she said.

“We were worried the fire was going to get us. You couldn’t see an inch outside the house.”

Martin said she was “very concerned” as there are a lot of fields around the guest house.

She said they had lost “several thousand pounds” due to cancelling bookings for this weekend.

“Luckily it meant we could house the fire crews instead. We were going to give the rooms for free but they’ve offered to pay,” she said.

Nerys Jones, community councillor for Rhandirmwyn, described the situation as “scary”, saying the fire made its way towards the village.

“Thankfully everyone had somewhere to go, the community have been fantastic,” she said, adding it must have been “awful for those asked to leave their homes behind”.

Jonathan Stanley, manager of The Kings Head Inn in Llandovery, said people had described hearing the fire from “miles away”.