A wildfire on Conwy Mountain was declared a major incident after residents in a rural community near Capelulo were told to leave their homes. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews were working in challenging conditions, and operations were expected to continue for some time.
Firefighters had been tackling the blaze on Conwy Mountain and the Sychnant Pass in Conwy county since Sunday morning. Jami Jennings said, "Due to the size and complexity of the incident, operations are expected to continue for some time," and added, "Wildfires can spread rapidly, particularly during periods of hot, dry and windy weather."
Capelulo evacuations
Penmaenmawr town council advised 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 made a place of safety for evacuees and those unable to return to their homes, while Penmaenmawr Golf Club was closed because of the fire.
North Wales Fire and Rescue Service urged people to avoid the area so emergency services could carry out their work, and told nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed. That left crews trying to protect local communities while the fire had already forced evacuations and left residents unsure when they could return home.
Rita Raweily in Fairy Glen
Rita Raweily said she was woken early by her dog barking wildly. She said there was a smell of burning in the air that got worse as the wind picked up, and that the area near her house was an evacuation zone.
She 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." She also said, "I had no idea what condition is house is in but I hoped all will be well."
The fire service alerted in the early hours has not said what caused the wildfire. For people in the affected area, the immediate step is to follow the emergency services on scene and stay away from Conwy Mountain and the Sychnant Pass while crews work through the incident.
