English: I, too, was horrified by the grass fires that raged throughout my constituency over the weekend. The grass fire in Tonypandy was visible from my home in Penygraig, and I know that that locally many people were concerned about it spreading to local properties. These fires tend to peak at this time of year, in April. We possibly would have had more fires by now had we not had so much rain. But the stark facts are that the number of grassland, woodland and crop fires rose in all three fire and rescue authorities in 2015-16. And in south Wales fire and rescue authority, they had the highest increase of 36 per cent. From the Cynon Taf crop fire rates in 2015-16, we're nearly double the nearest-placed local authority. Now, I attended a briefing last week where firefighters informed me of the specific issues pertaining to the Rhondda, and of the sterling work that they're doing to prevent fires through education, and also through their introduction of fire breaks, and the work that they do once the fires are raging. But more does need to done. And one thing that was suggested to me that could help is that if the restrictions on setting fires on the tops of the mountains could be relaxed. At the moment, the firefighters are able to put fire breaks in, but because of the bad weather they've been unable to do so. And the restrictions mean that they're only allowed to do that up until 31 March. So, if there's any relaxation of the legislation there, I think that that would be useful if it could be looked at. And then, finally, I wanted to raise the issue of Porth fire station, which was closed in July 2015. Before it was closed, I urged the Welsh Government to intervene and save the fire station on the grounds of public safety. Intervention to stop the closure is allowed under those circumstances, but that opportunity was missed at that time. I very much hope, Minister, that you will reflect on that missed opportunity, and act accordingly should a similar situation arise in the future.
Welsh: Roeddwn innau hefyd wedi fy arswydo gan y tanau glaswellt a ymledodd yn ffyrnig yn fy etholaeth i dros y penwythnos. Roedd y tân glaswellt yn Nhonypandy i'w weld o'm cartref ym Mhenygraig, a gwn fod nifer o bobl yn lleol yn pryderu y byddai'n lledu hyd at dai lleol. Mae'r tanau yn tueddu i gyrraedd uchafbwynt tua'r adeg hon o'r flwyddyn, ym mis Ebrill. Byddem o bosibl wedi gweld rhagor o danau erbyn hyn oni bai am y glaw. Ond y ffeithiau moel yw bod nifer y tanau glaswelltir, coetir a chnydau wedi codi yn y tri awdurdod tân ac achub yn 2015-16. Ac yn awdurdod tân ac achub De Cymru, gwelwyd y cynnydd mwyaf o 36 y cant. O ran cyfraddau tanau cnwd Cynon Taf yn 2015-16, rydym bron ddwbl maint cyfradd yr awdurdod lleol agosaf atom. Nawr, es i sesiwn friffio yr wythnos diwethaf lle'r oedd diffoddwyr tân yn rhoi gwybod i mi am faterion penodol yn ymwneud â'r Rhondda, ac am y gwaith rhagorol y maen nhw wedi ei wneud i atal tanau trwy addysg, a hefyd drwy osod rhwystrau tân, a'r gwaith y maen nhw'n ei wneud pan fydd y tanau yn ymledu'n wyllt. Ond mae angen gwneud rhagor. Ac un peth a awgrymwyd i mi a allai helpu oedd pe byddai modd llacio'r cyfyngiadau ar gynnau tanau ar ben mynyddoedd. Ar hyn o bryd, mae'r diffoddwyr tân yn gallu gosod rhwystrau tân, ond oherwydd tywydd anffafriol maen nhw wedi methu â gwneud hynny. Ac mae'r cyfyngiadau yn golygu nad oes ganddynt ganiatâd i wneud hynny ar ôl 31 Mawrth. Felly, pe byddai unrhyw lacio ar y ddeddfwriaeth hon, rwy'n credu y byddai'n ddefnyddiol ystyried hynny. Ac yna, yn olaf, roeddwn am godi mater gorsaf dân Porth, a gafodd ei chau ym mis Gorffennaf 2015. Cyn iddi gael ei chau, erfyniais ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ymyrryd ac achub yr orsaf dân ar sail diogelwch y cyhoedd. Caniateir ymyrraeth i atal cau yn yr amgylchiadau hynny, ond collwyd y cyfle yr adeg honno. Rwy'n gobeithio yn fawr, Gweinidog, y byddwch yn ystyried y cyfle a gollwyd, a gweithredu'n unol â hynny pe codai sefyllfa debyg yn y dyfodol.