Residents stunned as wildfires burn across Gwent in ‘worst summer in 20 years’

In Wattsville, the fire is tucked awkwardly into one of the steepest folds of the Sirhowy Valley, above the narrow Troed-y-Rhiw Road. The Wattsville fire, taken from Troed-y-Rhiw Road (Image: Olivia Griffin)By Wednesday morning, one fire engine and a handful of support vehicles remained at the scene, with crews treating hotspots and damping down the area. Fire engine on the scene in Wattsville (Image: Olivia Griffin)“We’re not overly worried, but it is unusual,” one resident said. Fire crew at the scene of the Rhiwderin fire (Image: Olivia Griffin)Their bigger concern was the number of fires crews were being called to across the area. The Wattsville blaze began on Monday evening, August 10, while the Rhiwderin fire was reported on Tuesday afternoon.