Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service News

Dräger is donating self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and helmets to the ‘Fire Angels’, two female firefighters who will be attempting seven marathons, in seven days, across seven continents – while wearing firefighter kit – as part of the ‘Great World Race’. The challenge is a part of their ongoing ambition to ‘change the narrative of what it means to be a girl’.  awareness for women’s issues The intrepid pair h...

Over 50 countries came together for the first-ever World Fire Congress in Washington DC last week. Hosted by the United States (US), the Congress (7th–8th May, 2024) was aimed at increasing international collaboration on the growing challenges faced by fire and rescue services across the globe. The two-day event also saw nations signing the World Fire Congress Charter, indicating their continued commitment to work together to tackle pressing fire-related issues. At the close of the event,...

Iwan Cray, current Assistant Chief Fire Officer, has been confirmed as the new Deputy Chief Fire Officer of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Following the announced retirement of Chief Fire Officer Chris Davies, who will leave the Service in April 2022, and the subsequent appointment of Deputy Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas to the role of Chief Fire Officer; Assistant Chief Fire Officer Iwan Cray was appointed by the Authority’s Appointments Committee on Monday 31 January 2022...

At 12:30 pm on Thursday, 13th January 2022, Joint Fire Control received a call of a property fire in Pentregethin Road, Ravenhill, Swansea. Crews from Port Talbot, Gorseinon, and Morriston were mobilized to the incident. The fire was located in the first-floor bedroom, of the two-story house, and extinguished by firefighters using four breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets, and two thermal imaging cameras. All persons within the property were accounted for. The Fire Service ventilat...

At 01:47 pm on 4th January 2022, Joint Fire Control received the first call of a fire at an industrial estate in Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth. Crews from Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, Tregaron, Llandrindod Wells, and Llanelli were mobilized to the incident, making a total of four fire appliances, one turntable ladder, an environmental unit, and a water bowser deployed to extinguish the fire. Police, Ambulance, and the Local Authority were also in attendance. The fire involved a single-story building,...

The latest class of firefighters, that will soon graduate and be deployed to serve communities across mid and west Wales, are due to take on an Everest task to raise money for the 2Wish charity and The Fire Fighters Charity. fundraising for 2wish, Fire Fighters Charity On 3rd December 2021, a class of 30 new firefighters, recruited and trained by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, will attempt to run lengths of hose, a common yet physical exercise within the fire and rescue service, f...

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service encourages everyone to put safety at the top of the priority list this winter. The winter safety campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks at home and on the road during the winter months and to provide practical advice on keeping warm safely this winter. Across the UK, around 5,000 fires a year are caused by faulty electric blankets, whilst another 12,000 fires happen within chimneys. With the darker nights and deteriorating weather over the winte...

Congratulations go to the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue team who took part in the British Firefighter Challenge earlier this month at Moreton-in-Marsh. The British Firefighter Challenge is an annual sporting event which pushes firefighters to their limits, provides a day of entertainment for spectators, and raises funds for the Firefighters Charity. Very challenging event MAWWFRS came 3rd overall and Watch Manager Dom Norcross was presented with the silver medal for his age group categor...

The Community Safety Team at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service are urging those with fuel burning appliances, fires, and stoves in the community to install working Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors, following a lucky escape by a Milford Haven resident, after a Safe & Well Visit by the Fire and Rescue Service. Earlier in October 2021, On-Call Firefighters at the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Neil Phillips and Huw Davies, who are currently assisting the Community Safety Te...

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Student Fire Safety Week campaign. Running from October 25 to October 31, 2021, the campaign raises awareness on the risk of fire to students starting out on their journey into university life. Sion Slaymaker, the Head of Business Fire Safety for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said, “For many young adults, this is the time of year when they start a new chapter in their live...

After restricted celebrations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, MAWWFRS recognizes that many will want to return to more usual activities in 2021. As a result, members of the Fire and Rescue team wish to remind others of some helpful hints and tips to help keep themselves, their families, and communities safe. The Fire and Rescue Service has developed a full suite of information on their website, providing further information on staying safe during the Bonfire Night and Halloween period, al...

Staff members from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were recognized for their outstanding contribution to safeguarding at the West Glamorgan Safeguarding Boards’ Safeguarding Recognition Awards Ceremony which took place virtually on 29th June 2021. The ceremony was an opportunity to recognize those whose contributions had provided a real and positive impact on people’s lives and to celebrate these outstanding contributions to safeguarding.  Delivering essential s...

Monday 13th September marked the beginning of a new chapter for the latest recruits. It was a pleasure to welcome them to The Towers Hotel in Swansea, to see them embark on their new and exciting journey towards becoming Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Firefighters.  Thirty recruits face an intensive 14-week course across 3 different locations, this course will be delivered by the Training Delivery Team, who will offer guidance and support every step of the way.  Tr...

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is seeking applicants for Wholetime Firefighters, with a recruitment process launching at 9 am on Thursday, September 9. Chief Fire Officer Chris Davies said, “This is an exciting opportunity for people to join a modern-day Fire and Rescue Service which is diverse and inclusive." "The role of a Firefighter is extremely varied. Firefighters not only train to respond to a diverse range of incidents including fires, road traffic collisions, water re...

At approximately 9:27 pm, on Thursday, 19th August 2021, Joint Fire Control received the first call to a fire at a privately owned commercial garage, located in Gwaun Cae-Gurwen, a village and community in the borough of Neath Port Talbot, in South West Wales and mobilized crews from Amman Valley, Pontardawe, Ammanford, Morriston, Tumble and Llanelli, in Wales, United Kingdom (UK), to the incident spot. Due to the contents within the single-story garage, which consisted of numerous vehicles, ti...

Buying a beanie hat will be the last thing on most people’s minds in the middle of summer, but sales of the limited edition, 25th anniversary of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service branded, beanie hats have already raised £500 for The Fire Fighters Charity. Watch Manager Adrian Davies is the architect of the scheme and is ready to take further orders for the winter ahead. Designing beanie hats  “As Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is celebrating it...

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) have been successful in extending their Gold Status in the Healthy Working Wales Awards. The Healthy Working Wales (HWW) Programme is delivered by Public Health Wales, on behalf of the Welsh Government, and works with employers to develop and sustain environments, policies, and cultures that promote good health and support the appropriate and timely return to work of those who are absent due to sickness or who have fallen out of employment du...

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) National Sprinkler Week campaign. Running from 17th - 23rd May, the campaign raises awareness of the benefits of sprinkler systems in keeping people and buildings safe from fire. Fire sprinklers Fire sprinklers are widely recognized as the single most effective method for fighting the spread of fires in their early stages. Research by the National Fire Chief’s Council and the Nat...

As the weather improves and the COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease, an increase in staycations is predicted with many choosing to holiday in Wales’ beauty hotspots. Fire Services across Wales are working in partnership with Visit Wales and holiday homeowners to ensure they are familiar with new and updated guidance to continue keeping themselves and their customers safe in the summer. This toolkit designed by multi-agency specialists across key agencies offers unique tailored advice...

The cutting-edge kit designed by firefighters for firefighters has been revealed for the very first time in Wales. It is a proud milestone for Welsh crews who collaborated to shape the new advanced design in a ground-breaking two-year project which saw the final contract awarded to supplier Ballyclare.  Xenon fire kit Brand recruits from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service proudly displayed their new kit for the first time at their official passing out parade at Cardiff Gate Training and...

A fire investigation has concluded at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells, which was undertaken following a fire at the premises on Tuesday evening, April 13, 2021. The investigation determined that the cause of the fire was accidental. The significant fire was brought under control and extinguished by firefighters and rescue personnel belonging to the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. However, effective fire safety measures already placed at the hotel helped contain the fire to th...

On Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at 06:25 pm, crews from Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Rhayader, Llanwrtyd Wells, Talgarth and Knighton, in the United Kingdom, attended to a fire break-out at a hotel in Llandrindod Wells. The hotel comprised of six floors, above ground, and two basements. The fire was contained to a laundry room basement, but the smoke had spread to all rear rooms of the hotel. Incident Command Unit deployed Firefighters extinguished the fire using breathing apparatus, hose ree...

With warmer and dryer weather setting in, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service wishes to remind the public that lighting grass fires is not only illegal, but also a danger to its firefighters, following an incident that resulted in a firefighter sustaining a musculoskeletal injury. At 08:08 pm, on Tuesday, 30th March 2021, Joint Fire Control received the first call of a grass fire on Mynydd Cadle Common, in Penlan, Swansea, Wales and crews from Morriston and Swansea Central were deplo...

On Monday, 8th March 2021 at 05:50 pm, Joint Fire Control received a report of a fire in the open, near Marine Walk, Maritime Quarter, Swansea. A crew from Swansea Central was mobilized to the incident. The Police were also in attendance. The fire was found to have been lit deliberately. The Fire Service left the incident at 07:15 pm. At 10:42 am, Tuesday 9th March 2021, firefighters from Swansea Central attended a vehicle fire in the Maritime Quarter area of Swansea. Starting deliberate fires...

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging tenders from suitable suppliers to build a brand-new Compartment Fire Behavior Training Unit at its main training facility in Earlswood, Neath Port Talbot. The tender has been published on Sell2Wales and will run from Monday, 8th March 2021, until noon on Friday, 30th April 2021. Suppliers can submit tender queries through the Sell2Wales portal until 17:00 on Friday 23rd April 2021.

At 01:17 am this morning, Tuesday 2nd March 2021, crews from Milford Haven were called to a property fire in the Hakin area of Milford Haven. The fire was confined to a pan on a stove in the kitchen area and extinguished by firefighters using two breathing apparatus, a hose reel jet, and a thermal imaging camera. Crews also ventilated the property and fitted smoke alarms within the property. The Fire Service left the incident at 02:00 am. Cause of fire It is so important to remove a...

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) have upgraded its aerial rescue provisions. On Monday, 4th January 2021, three brand new Turntable Ladders were made operationally active by MAWWFRS and went on the run at Morriston, Aberystwyth, and Haverfordwest fire stations. Better protecting communities Group Manager Ricky Woodhead said, “We’re delighted to bring in these state-of-the-art appliances into our fleet of operational vehicles. During 2020, Mid and West Wales Fire...

Over the past 24 hours, 08:00 am 20/01/2021 to 08:00 am 21/01/2021, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) have received 233 calls through its Joint Fire Control. Of the 233 calls, Joint Fire Control received 140 flood-related calls. 71 calls of external flooding, 57 calls of internal flooding, and 12 calls where the flooding posed a risk to life. Amongst the busiest station areas during this period were Abercrave, with 11 incidents, Llandeilo 8, Ammanford 8, Carmarthen 7, and Wel...

MWWFRS selected RescueSim because it was the only virtual training platform to fully meet all requirements and specifications Following an official tender for delivery and implementation of a virtual incident command training platform, the Mid and West Wales Fire & Rescue Service (MWWFRS) has selected RescueSim as platform of choice. Implementation and incident training with RescueSim has already been initiated.   MWWFRS covers approximately 4,500 square miles which...