Newbridge streets evacuated after massive fire destroys homes

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August 12, 2026·1 min read·Updated 23 hours ago

An aerial shot of a row of homes with their roofs destroyed by fire. Smoke streams into the air. Land in front of the houses is scorched, with firefighters holding hoses spraying water towards the scene. — Image caption, A Newbridge councillor says houses have been "gutted"BBC News

Image source, Tim Bourne
Image caption,
Residents are being offered temporary accommodation

Slide1 of 6, An aerial photo of the scene, showing the full extent of a blackened patch of land. The burned homes are on a resident street, with another row of housing behind. , Residents are being offered temporary accommodation

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Caerphilly council leader James Pritchard told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast the 20 residents initially taken to a leisure centre had been moved to a hotel early on Thursday morning.

"As a council, we will do everything we can to support the residents at this difficult time," he said.

The cause of the fire had still to be determined by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, he said.

But ap Iorwerth said wildfires this summer had affected "capability", particularly in the Gwent and south Wales fire service areas.

He described the fire as "very destructive" and said his thoughts were with those who had to leave their homes.

Julia Nichols, 74, said she had been left in "absolute fear" and the sounds of the flames could be heard from inside her home.

Reporting from BBC News contributed to this story.