The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has reassured the public after rumours spread that several stations in Powys were unavailable for 999 calls one morning last month.

The affected stations included Brecon, Builth Wells, Crickhowell, Hay-on-Wye, Rhayader, and Talgarth on the morning of Monday, October 20.

A spokesperson said some stations were temporarily unavailable due to staffing levels, but procedures were in place to ensure emergency cover at all times.

A spokesperson told the Brecon and Radnor Express: “We appreciate the public’s interest in the availability of our fire and rescue stations and understand the concern raised regarding coverage on the morning of October 20.

“On-call stations play a vital role in our emergency response model, and while some stations referred to were temporarily unavailable during that period due to staffing levels, we want to reassure the public that we have mobilising procedures in place that ensure the safety of the communities we serve at all times.

“We are actively working to strengthen resilience across the service and are currently running targeted on-call recruitment campaigns in areas including Brecon, Builth Wells, Crickhowell, Hay-on-Wye, Rhayader, and Talgarth. These roles are essential to keeping our communities safe, and we’re encouraging people who live or work locally to consider joining us as on-call firefighters.”

The spokesperson added: “If you live or work within five minutes of one of our on-call stations and want to make a real difference in your community, we’d love to hear from you. Full training is provided, and it’s a rewarding role that fits around your existing commitments. Visit our website to learn more and apply.

“We remain committed to providing a reliable and effective service and are grateful for the continued support of our communities as we build capacity for the future.”