Home / Environment / Elan Valley Wildfires Rage: Fifth Day of Battle
Elan Valley Wildfires Rage: Fifth Day of Battle
30 Apr
Summary
- Firefighters battle wildfires in Elan valley for five days.
- Biodiverse area, 80% SSSI, fears for flora and fauna.
- Wildfires increase risk due to current dry weather conditions.
Wildfires continue to burn in the scenic Elan valley, with firefighters entering their fifth day of efforts to control the blaze. The Mid and West Wales fire and rescue service has been actively working to extinguish fires in and around the Powys beauty spot since Sunday.
A helicopter has been deployed to tackle the most intense fires near the Claerwen dam and Teifi Pools. This situation has led to the closure of the Hafod Estate, a National Trust property, and prompted warnings for the public to stay away from the affected area.
The Elan valley, known for its dams and reservoirs, is a biodiverse region where 80% of the land is designated as sites of special scientific interest. There are growing concerns about the impact of the fires on its unique flora and fauna.
Recent years have seen a significant increase in UK wildfires. In 2025, the UK recorded its worst year for wildfires since monitoring began in 2012, with a vast area of land burned by November, more than double the area affected in 2022.
