UPDATE: 1.50pm

Reader Wayne Gibbon sent these pictures of what appears to be a fresh fire on the mountain in Wattsville.

South Wales Argus:

 

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 9.05am

Fire Crews are still tackling a mountainside fire above Wattsville this morning, more than 17 hours after it started.

Firefighters are using beaters in a bid to contain "numerous" seats of fire.

More than 100 people have reported the blaze, which can be seen for miles, since 4.22pm yesterday.

UPDATE: 6.22pm

The firefighting helicopter tackling the blaze above Wattsville.

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 6.03pm

Reader pic of the blaze above Wattsville.

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 5.32pm

Reader Adrian Whatley sent these pictures in of the Wattsville fire.

South Wales Argus:

South Wales Argus:

 

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 5.24pm

A spokesman for the fire service said the first calls had been received at 2.22pm.

The wind direction is taking the flames away from houses, so no-one has yet been evacuated from their home.

UPDATE: 5.04pm

A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, said he could see the fire from his home in Fernlea, Risca. He said: "I’m up here and I can see direct. It’s getting quite bad.

"I can see thick, black smoke smelling quite bad. It’s spreading up the mountain now. The helicopter is going back and forward from the reservoir. It’s just loads of smoke everywhere."

He said the helicopter was flying towards Machen, estimating it was heading toward Cwmbran reservoir.

UPDATE: 4.54pm

John Baker sent this picture of the firefighting helicopter in Wattsville.

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 4.49pm

Jessica Newnes sent this picture of the firefighting helicopter from the back of her house in Wattsville.

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 4.45pm

Sophie Chadd sent this picture of the Wattsville blaze. She said: "I was just walking my dog in Sirhowy valley park and took these photos of the fire. I hope it's under control soon!"

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 4.35pm

Helicopter dropping water on Wattsville mountainside fire from Argus reporter Andy Rutherford.

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 4.30pm

Firefighting helicopter above Wattsville

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 4.28pm

Firefighting helicopter above Wattsville

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 4.25pm

Mountain fire on mountainside in Wattsville by Argus photographer Chris Tinsley

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 4.23pm

Firefighting helicopter above Wattsville

South Wales Argus:

UPDATE: 4.20pm

Picture from Argus reporter Andy Rutherford

South Wales Argus:


UPDATE: 4.14pm

A wildfire expert has now joined firefighters at the forest blaze in Wattsville to assist firefighting.


 

UPDATE: 4.10pm

A HELICOPTER has been scrambled to fight the mountain fire near Wattsville this afternoon.

The fire is covering around five hectares (12 acres) in "mature pine" on the Wattsville side of the mountain.

Firecrews from Abercarn and Risca are fighting the blaze and they have asked for two more pumps from Malpas and Cefn Forest. An Argocat (all terrain vehicle) has also been requested.

The four appliances are currently setting up a water relay to tackle the fire.

 


A FIRECREW from Risca has been called to a mountain fire above Wattsville this afternoon.

Are you near the scene? Send us pics to newsdesk@southwalesargus.co.uk