Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Housing and Local Government – in the Senedd at 2:22 pm on 17 July 2019.
Thank you, Minister. A short while ago, I had the privilege to meet with Craig Hope and other members of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service at Aberdare Fire Station to discuss their innovative approach to tackling wildfires. Craig is internationally renowned for his approach to the issue, for example through the development of the wildfire toolbox and the focus on taking a year-round approach as well. We know that overall numbers of wildfires are currently declining, but the ones that are occurring are on a larger scale, which provides a different set of challenges for fire services and for communities as well. There was another major wildfire in my constituency on Abernant mountain just last week. How are the Welsh Government working with partners to reduce the incidence of wildfires, for example, through land management, the spread of best practice and the adoption of a 365-day approach so that lives and property aren't at risk?