Mid and West Fire and Rescue Services is in-charge to an area of 4,500 square miles and to almost 2/3 of the landmass of Wales. The administration of the service is run by the 6 unitary authorities who formed the fire and rescue authority committee. They are responsible to policy-making and to the setting up of the practices of the service. They convene every 3 months and they are supported as well by the three main committees which are Resources, Personnel and Performance Review and Audit.
There is a wide risk around the area of the service which includes the petro-chemical industries in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire and Briton Ferry, and Neath; the densely populated cities such as Swansea, Port Talbot and Llanelli; a huge farming community; light industries; and the coastline and inland waterways.
The service has 57 operational fire stations and employs approximately 1,400 staff- both operational and support. In addition, the service is split into 6 county commands which are Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, City and County of Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, and Powys.
The stations are a combination of fulltime, retained and volunteer. The main headquarters is located in Carmarthen but the Fire Safety Headquarters is in Morriston, Swansea.
