Major incident declared as wildfire leads to evacuations in North Wales
Firefighters faced challenging conditions while working to contain a wildfire that resulted in the evacuation of 36 homes near Conwy Mountain.
By BBC News
A major incident was declared following a wildfire that broke out near Conwy Mountain and the Sychnant Pass in North Wales on Sunday, leading to the evacuation of 36 homes. Firefighters responded to the blaze, which affected approximately 200 acres of land. Residents reported hearing loud crackling sounds as the fire approached their properties. One resident, Ben Campbell, described the frightening experience, stating, "The sound was worse than anything. It was so loud, the crackling. You could hear it coming down the mountain."
By Monday evening, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service announced that the situation had improved significantly, allowing evacuated residents to return home. The service confirmed that firefighters remained on-site to monitor conditions and assess any ongoing risks. A rest centre was established to support those impacted by the fire.
Satellite imagery captured on Sunday showed the scale of the fire, with smoke rising and scorch marks visible on the hillsides. The blaze prompted road closures in the area, which were lifted once it was deemed safe.
Michelle Campbell, who fled her home with her family, described the panic as the fire approached. She and her family sought refuge 30 miles away on Anglesey. Local schools, including Ysgol Pencae and Ysgol Capelulo, were closed due to the wildfire.
Conwy Council is providing support to evacuated residents, including accommodation for those displaced. Ex-firefighter Tim Lloyd, a resident of Capelulo, noted the challenging conditions faced by firefighters, who were battling heat exhaustion while wearing heavy protective gear.
As the wildfire situation develops, Welsh Water has urged customers to conserve water due to increased demand during the ongoing heatwave. The company reported a 17% rise in water usage, which has remained elevated throughout the day and night.
Forecasters have indicated that parts of Wales are at a "very high risk" of wildfires in the coming days, as the region continues to experience extremely hot and dry weather.