This summer will always be seared in my memory. Like many people from my home town of Blaenavon, I have walked up Llanover Road many times to see the beautiful landscape. For the whole local community, seeing the awful damage caused by the wildfires of June and July was devastating. Businesses and local people rallied together in incredibly difficult circumstances.
The sheer scale of the damage is breathtaking. More than 220 hectares of land were impacted. Firefighters from South Wales Fire and Rescue, together with 22 fire services from across the country, battled the peatland fires for over six weeks. Torfaen had the fourth-highest intensity of carbon emissions per square kilometre in the world throughout July 2026, with smoke travelling as far as Cardiff and Gloucester. Between 11 August and 1 September, the fire service reported 961 grass fires, including 115 wildfires and 26 ‘Category 3’ (very large-scale) wildfires, showing the intense pressure that existed on our frontline services.
I met the farmers and those from the Blorenge Commoners’ Association to listen to their stories: from heartbreaking deaths of livestock to loss of earnings and disrupted water supplies, they had so many challenges to deal with this summer. I am very grateful to them, and all those who played a part in combating the wildfires: from our brilliant firefighters, to Torfaen County Borough Council, Natural Resources Wales, Gwent Police and over 100 military personnel. I’m also grateful for the ongoing efforts to continue to raise this important issue to ensure the land’s recovery.
To ensure that this was all discussed in parliament, I secured a debate in Westminster Hall. I put the case for co-operation between the UK and Welsh government. Land management – an issue raised with me by local farmers – is devolved, but the deployment of military personnel is a matter for the UK government.
It’s vital that ministers in Cardiff Bay and in London work together. I argued for additional funding for restoration of the land and future resilience. Torfaen County Borough Council has already provided additional money, but I will be pressing other parties to step up as well. I will – always – ensure the voice of my constituents is heard, and it was positive to have the opportunity to put these points directly to the prime minister, Andy Burnham, too.
The UK government and Welsh government wildfire summits have to be followed by action, so changes are put in place in the next few months ahead of next summer. The views of those who work the land, and those who fought the fires on the frontline, must be central. We need to ensure firefighters have access to the tools they need, including aerial support, and up-to-date personal protective equipment.
Public information and education around prevention is crucial, and we must learn from best practice across the UK. On the level of funding required, Torfaen must not be short-changed. The North York Moors National Park Authority was awarded up to £3.2 million to recover from the devastating peat fires of 2025: it is crucial that we look at how this was calculated.
Sadly, factors including climate change mean that wildfires will become a more frequent occurrence. The national conversation now happening about wildfires is crucial, but it has to yield concrete action so that we are all in a better position as we approach next summer.
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