MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service are warning of the dangers of using accelerants to light bonfires after an incident in Llandybie at the weekend.

A spokeswoman said appliances from Ammanford attended a property in Llandybie on Saturday morning after a man sustained burns to his lower left arm and lower back area after using petrol on a bonfire.

Crews had to administer first aid and oxygen therapy to the casualty, before he was conveyed to hospital via ambulance.

Watch Manager Jason Woodman said: “The man was assisting an elderly couple to clear an overgrown area. He piled up the vegetation and lit it, but when it failed to burn sufficiently, he attempted to use petrol to increase the burn. This resulted in the petrol flashing back at him and setting his clothes on fire. “People need to be aware of the dangers of using petrol or other accelerants to light or increase the rate of burn of a garden fire.

"These accelerants give off vapours that catch fire and flash very easily, you might not be aware that you are standing in a cloud of these vapours until they catch fire.”