Hundreds gather for annual 20ft bonfire at Penrhys housing estate

Hundreds of residents gathered at the Penrhys housing estate in Rhondda Cynon Taf on Thursday for an unofficial community bonfire estimated to be 80ft wide and 20ft tall. The annual event, which has been running for almost 30 years, raised more than £1,000 for local organisations despite previous safety warnings from public bodies.

Cai Grocott, a 28-year-old resident who has attended the bonfire for the past 10 years, described the atmosphere as “unreal. He noted that he had “never seen it as busy as it was last night”, with nearby roads blocked with cars from visitors attending the gathering.

“It’s all about bringing people together, the community, they haven’t got anything,” Grocott said, emphasising the social importance of the event for the local area. He added that the occasion felt “like something out of a movie”, with everyone laughing and children playing on the banking.

Grocott addressed concerns about potential chaos, stating: “People think it’s going to be chaos, people throwing fireworks at each other… but it was so well run. He highlighted that a perimeter around the fire was monitored by 10 people, ensuring the event remained under control throughout the night.

The resident acknowledged that the area has struggled financially in recent years, with a redevelopment programme buying residents out of their homes. “Penrhys used to be three times as big as it was now. Now, they only have one shop and a church, everything else in the community has been taken away due to funding,” he explained.

Trivallis Housing Association, which owns the land where the bonfire took place, issued a statement clarifying its position on the event. The association said it “does not support or endorse unofficial bonfires” but recognised that communities may choose to hold them. It added: “We would encourage anyone involved to follow all safety advice issued by the relevant public authorities.

The housing association further warned that it would not monitor the bonfire site, stating it is “important that the public understands that these activities sit outside our role and responsibilities. It urged residents to attend organised fireworks displays delivered by trained professionals and supported by the appropriate public authorities, rather than attending unofficial events.

Mike Hill, station manager at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, also issued guidance to the public regarding fire safety. “We encourage everyone to attend licensed firework displays,” Hill said, reinforcing the service’s preference for professionally managed events.

Hill added that if people are planning their own bonfires, they should always obtain the landowner’s permission. He advised residents to burn only clean and untreated wood, keep fires well away from buildings, combustible materials and roads, and ensure they have a safe means of extinguishing the fire.

The service had previously urged people to attend licensed firework displays as a safer alternative to informal gatherings.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council declined to comment on this year’s specific event, maintaining a neutral stance on the community-run activity. The council’s decision not to engage with the media regarding the bonfire contrasts with the proactive safety messaging from the fire service and housing association.

Groccott said he would welcome more supervision for the event in the future, including the presence of firefighters and paramedics. He maintained that despite the area’s bad reputation, he did not view safety as an issue, citing the effective community-led monitoring of the fire perimeter.