Rita Raweily said she was woken early this morning by her dog barking wildly as a wildfire spread across Conwy Mountain and the Sychnant Pass. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze, which began on Sunday morning, was declared a major incident.
Jami Jennings, a spokesperson for the fire service, said: "Due to the size and complexity of the incident, operations are expected to continue for some time." She also said: "Wildfires can spread rapidly, particularly during periods of hot, dry and windy weather."
Capelulo and The Gladstone Inn
Penmaenmawr town council told householders at Capelulo, particularly those around the Fairy Glen public house, to leave safely and follow the instructions of the emergency services on scene. The Gladstone Inn was set aside as a place of safety for evacuees and anyone unable to return home.
Raweily said: "I got ready, threw some clothes on and went to see if there was anything I could do to help," and added: "That whole area near the house is an evacuation zone and we don't know when we are going home."
Penmaenmawr Golf Club
The fire service urged people to avoid the area so emergency services could carry out their work, while nearby residents were told to keep windows and doors closed. Penmaenmawr Golf Club was closed due to the fire, adding a second disruption for people living and moving through the area.
Raweily said there was a smell of burning in the air that got worse as the wind picked up and the area was really smoky. Jennings told people: "We continue to ask everyone to act responsibly by avoiding the use of disposable barbecues, ensuring cigarettes are fully extinguished and reporting any signs of fire immediately by calling 999."
The immediate question for residents is how long the evacuation zone and other restrictions will stay in place, and Jennings has already said the response will run for some time. For people in Capelulo and nearby communities, that means staying ready to follow instructions from emergency crews, with The Gladstone Inn still carrying the burden of being the named place of safety.
