Crews Extinguish Rhondda Mountain Fires Deemed Deliberate After Weekend Blaze

Fires that ravaged a mountain in the Rhondda Valley since Saturday were confirmed to have been started deliberately, according to fire service officials.

Crews from the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service worked through the weekend to extinguish the extensive blaze. On Saturday, a substantial fire broke out on the mountainside near Penrhys Road, between Tylorstown and Penrhys. Firefighters returned on Sunday to address further fires in the same area.

A spokesperson for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service stated that the fires were categorised as deliberate.

Local residents reported significant smoke plumes visible across the valley throughout the weekend. The incident required considerable resources, including specialist equipment, to prevent the fires from spreading to residential areas or critical infrastructure.