A man was arrested after a fire at a former nursing home

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a huge fire broke out at a former care home on Sunday. Fire crews worked at the site of the former Yr Hen Bont apartment block in Eastalifer for more than 15 hours as the blaze caused “significant damage” to the large building, including the collapse of the roof.

A South Wales Police spokesperson said a man from Gaudre Greig was arrested in connection with the incident and has been released on bail until January 23 pending further enquiries. A spokesperson said: “South Wales Police were called shortly after 6.50pm on Sunday 22 October by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service to reports of a fire at Yr Hen Bont, Ystalyfera. The man’s boyfriend, aged 19, from Godre’ Greig, was arrested on suspicion of arson and is on bail until January 23, 2024, pending further enquiries.

Firefighters from Abercrave, Pontardawe, Seven Sisters, Amman Valley, Neath, Morriston and Glynnet were called to the abandoned building at 6.44pm on Sunday, October 22, a Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said. The fire was “very advanced” when crews arrived to fight it, and because of the magnitude of the fire, crews also spent a “significant period of time” monitoring the building and eliminating hot spots, the spokesperson said. You can get more news and other Swansea Valley updates straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletters here.

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“Re-inspection continued throughout the afternoon and evening of October 23 before the site was declared safe,” the spokesperson added. “The building suffered significant fire damage, including a roof collapse. The teams left the scene at 9:03 pm the following day, October 23rd.