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A couple who watched in fear as a wildfire raced down a mountainside towards their home have said they worry the threat could get worse with climate change. Fire crews prevented the flames from reaching Alison and Ian Jones’ house backing onto the mountain above Treorchy in Rhondda Cynon Taf last month, but the close call has left them wondering how bad it could get.
“More fires and longer fire seasons” is what can be expected if climate change trends continue, said Prof Stefan Doerr, head of Swansea University’s Centre for Wildfire Research.
A mild winter allowing for more foliage growth followed by spring droughts has made this year particularly bad for wildfires, he added. Firefighters have had to hold back raging wildfires from properties across Wales this week, with one Ceredigion councillor describing firefighters as being “on their knees”.
Ian Jones, who decided to fell a tree close his roof after the fire, said they were “concerned every year” because of mountain fires coming down to the edge of Treorchy, but a blaze on 21 March “got a little bit close to the house”. His biggest fear, he said, was for the safety of the firefighters.
Wildfires also make crews less able respond to a property fire or a road crash. With no major wildfires in Wales last year, Prof Doerr said the fields and mountains have had “a lot of vegetation growth”. Together with the spring drought it “makes things pretty bad” this year, he added.
Understanding the risk is important, said Sian Jones, 64, from Crymych in Pembrokeshire. “Controlling the gorse is crucial to avoid wildfires.” She said nothing is more beautiful than seeing controlled fires.
But climate change is making things worse. The Ffair Rhos mountain fire spread across an area the size of 3,500 football pitches this week.
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