Written Statement: Update on Wildfires and Military Support (14 August 2026)

The ongoing and unprecedented wildfires across Wales are continuing to place immense pressure on Fire and Rescue Services and other agencies.

We remain incredibly grateful to firefighters and other responders for working tirelessly in very challenging conditions to extinguish the fires and protect life and property.

Many communities across the country have been significantly affected, and support is being offered to the residents in Newbridge who have suffered the devastating loss of their homes.

At present, both South Wales and Mid and West Wales Fire Services have declared major incidents given the pressures on them from fires in multiple locations.

The incidents are being managed through an established multi-agency emergency structure covering all organisations involved in the response including the Welsh Government.

The First Minister attended the COBR meeting earlier this week to update on the serious situation in Wales. He emphasised the need for co-ordinated action to tackle the situation across the UK, including potential deployment of military assets to support firefighters.

The Welsh Government has been supporting South Wales Fire and Rescue Service in a formal MACA (Military Aid to the Civilian Authorities) request to deploy Army resources to assist them with the current operations.

This has now been agreed, and we are extremely grateful to the Army for providing this additional support. The Welsh Government stands ready to provide funding for these military support operations should this be required.

The risks of further wildfires remains very high given the prolonged dry and hot weather. It is extremely important the public continue to play their part in minimising the risks of further outbreaks of fire by behaving responsibly. This means avoiding any activity that could cause fire.

The Welsh Government, alongside our partners, continues to emphasise consistent public messaging around prevention of accidental and deliberate fires, public safety, the need for rapid reporting of fires where there is an immediate risk to life or property, and protecting vulnerable people from smoke impacts.

It is vital that the advice of the emergency services is followed at all times, so that they can focus all their resources on the immediate work of dealing with these unprecedented set of circumstances and keeping people and property safe.

This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. An Oral Statement and questions will be timetabled for the first Senedd plenary session following recess.