// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Soldiers praised for 'phenomenal job' helping crews tackle wildfires
Soldiers from 10 Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment are among 200 military personnel helping with wildfires in south Wales
A chief fire officer has praised soldiers for supporting crews tackling wildfires in south Wales.
Fin Monahan said South Wales Fire and Rescue Service was under severe pressure in the "long fight" and very grateful to seven other fire services and the military for help.
About 200 members of the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, with support from 22 Royal Engineers, Royal Logistics Corp and Army helicopters have been been involved in the operation.
There has also been support from fire services from London and Cumbria among others.
Monahan told the BBC the UK and Welsh governments took "a very serious step" in bringing in the military but the "extra capacity" was needed.
He said his firefighters have "very specialist skills" to tackle wildfires with military assistance enabling him to "focus all of that in the right place".
Soldiers have been providing logistical support, including water distribution, to assist firefighters and specialist responders.
Monahan described the soldiers as "doing an utterly phenomenal job digging trenches and also helping us build fire breaks".
"That has liberated lots of our firefighters to go and do their more specialist skills of firefighting."