Firefighters from across South Wales have been praised for their skill and bravery in tackling the recent spate of grass fires.
Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews visited fire stations in Caerphilly and Tonypandy on Wednesday May 13 to meet crews.
He said: “I would like to thank South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and individual firefighters, as well as the other fire and rescue Authorities across Wales, for their response to these outbreaks. They worked tirelessly to control the widespread fires we saw destroying our environment over the Easter holidays and beyond.
“I am well aware of the concern felt by the wider communities affected by these crimes. Many people in these communities have provided support to firefighters by volunteering information on suspected perpetrators.
“The fire and rescue service shouldn’t have been put in this position. Firefighters have put their own lives at risk to deal with the criminal acts of others. These deliberate fires also prevented firefighters from responding to other incidents, which is unacceptable.
Chief Fire Officer for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Huw Jakeway, said: “Firefighters from across our stations have shown their dedication to protecting their communities with the recent spate of deliberately set grass fires.”