FIREFIGHTERS IN ARFON

That this House expresses gratitude for all the firefighters who are battling the forest fire in Braichmelyn, near Bethesda, Gwynedd and the mountain fire at Mynydd Cilgwyn in Carmel; praises firefighters from across Arfon for their endless hard work in the face of mounting pressure on the service; expresses thanks to North Wales Police and Gwynedd Council for assisting in the evacuation of residents from properties in Carmel and Bethesda; notes the importance of retaining local fire stations in rural communities in order to maintain emergency service cover across the parliamentary constituency; further notes that local knowledge and expertise should be safeguarded in order to protect the public; and expresses concern that the potential loss of local firefighters with detailed knowledge of their patch could lead to a dangerous vacuum, amplifying the danger to life and property.