The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 created South Wales Fire and Rescue Service in 1996. It covers an approximate area of 3,000 kilometers square with a population of 1.5 million.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service of the 10 Welsh areas which are Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr, Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, and Vale of Glamorgan. Representatives from each areas jointly administer the service.
The service has 50 fire stations in operations and has 1000 employees. There are 10 stations operating on a fulltime schedule which means that they are in service 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. They are in Barry, Penarth, New Inn, Malpas, Maindee, Duffryn, Whitchurch, Roath, Cardiff Central, and in Ely.
For the wholetime-retained stations, they are in Bridgend, Maesteg, Tonypandy, Pontypridd, Aberdare, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Cafn Forest and Cwmbran.
There are 5 stations operating on a day shift duty system and they are in Cowbridge, Abercarn, Abertillery, Ebbw Vale, and Caldicot.
Then the remaining stations are crewed by retained firefighters who live nearby the stations so they can come over within 5 minutes after a call is received. These stations are based in Porthcawl, Kenfig Hill, Pencoed, Ogmore Vale, Pontycymmer, Treorchy, Ferndale, Porth, Gilfach Goch, Pontyclun, Hirwaun, Abercynon, Llantwit Major, Bargoed, Treharris, Tredegar, Rhymney, Risca, Abersychan, Blaina, Brynmawr, Blaenavon, Abergavenny, Monmouth, Usk and in Chepstow.
