SKEWEN: Flames light the sky over homes as wildfire burns through the night on Drummau Mountain

A wildfire has burned through the night on Drummau Mountain above Skewen, with flames lighting the sky over rooftops across the Neath Valley.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service was called at 6.25pm on Monday, and says the incident is still ongoing, with firefighters continuing to work to bring the fire under control on Tuesday morning.

Crews from Neath, Pontardawe, Reynoldston, Swansea Central, Port Talbot, Amman Valley, Llanelli and Ammanford fire stations have attended.

Police have asked for Drummau Road to be closed between Birchgrove and Skewen. Cllr Matthew Jones, who represents Llansamlet on Swansea Council, said some people were going to the area “for a look” and getting in the way of the emergency services.

Residents watched from streets and windows as the fire crowned the mountain, with photographs shared from Skewen, Neath and Melin showing long lines of flame along the hillside, and fears voiced for property and livestock on the mountain.

Amman Valley firefighters, who filmed among the burning gorse as they worked, said crews spent the night containing the fire “whilst working in extremely challenging conditions”.

The station said the incident remained ongoing in the early hours with crews still on scene, reminding residents to keep doors and windows closed “due to the volume of smoke in the area”.

The service is asking people to avoid the affected areas so emergency services can operate safely.

Its advice on smoke is to stay indoors where possible with windows and doors shut, then open up to ventilate once the smoke has cleared and it is safe to do so.

Anyone who sees flames, or believes life or property is at immediate risk, should call 999.

Cllr Mike Harvey, Neath Port Talbot Council member for Coedffranc North, visited the scene on Tuesday and said Drummau Road remained closed. He said a police officer at the scene believed the fire was under control, but stressed this was unconfirmed as he had received no update from the fire service.

Other residents photographing the mountain on Tuesday morning said it appeared calmer, but pointed to the wind picking up.

No cause has been given for the fire.

It is the second night running that crews have fought fire on a hillside in the area. On Sunday evening two hectares burned at Mayhill, in what the fire service said was the result of a string of deliberately set fires.

The blaze caps a punishing August for the service, whose crews spent almost 60 hours at the Morfa Bychan cliff fire near Pendine. Days more went on wildfires at Rhandirmwyn and Talley, with Wales in drought.

A UK Government emergency alert went to phones across Wales on 14 August warning of wildfire risk, and disposable barbecues were banned from sale across Britain the same week.

The service’s #WildfireWise campaign asks people to report suspicious activity and avoid any outdoor burning in dry conditions. Anyone with information about deliberate fire-setting can contact police, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.