The North Wales Fire & Rescue Service has released footage capturing the huge scale of a North Wales wildfire. The fire that broke out on Conwy mountain near the Synchant Pass has been raging since Sunday morning – with homes evacuated and residents in Dwygyfylchi and Penmaenmawr told to keep windows and doors closed.
The smell of smoke and burning was reported as far away as Anglesey as firefighters remain at the scene and some residents have yet to be allowed to return to their homes.
At its height the blaze swept across 200 acres with a 1.6km fire front threatening properties in Synchant Pass and beyond.
Today’s footage shows hotspots still smouldering and smoke drifting across the mountain. For all the latest updates on the fire follow our liveblog here.
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Blackened areas of vegetation can also be seen and with hot and dry weather forecast for the rest of the week in Conwy and across much of the region, the risk of it reigniting remains high.
The fire service remains fully stretched with firefighters at a number of wildfire and grass fire incidents across North Wales this morning, a spokesperson confirmed today.
At Conwy Mountain, firefighters are still on scene fighting the fire, maintaining firebreaks and monitoring conditions.
Resources currently include six fire engines, three narrow access appliances, a wildfire unit, an Incident Command Unit and operational officers. Resource levels will continue to be reviewed throughout the day as temperatures rise, the spokesperson added.
The incident continues to be managed through a co-ordinated multi-agency response involving emergency services and partner organisations.
There is currently no requirement for further evacuations. It remains too early to say when residents evacuated from the Capelulo area will be able to return home. If the situation changes, North Wales Police or North Wales Fire and Rescue Service will contact affected residents directly and arrange access to the designated rest centre if required.
Sychnant Pass Road and Old Conway Road remain closed.
Elsewhere, firefighters remain in attendance at Braichmelyn Forestry, Bethesda, while incidents in the Brynford and Harlech areas are being re-inspected this morning to assess the situation.
Head of Prevention Jody McEachern said: “Firefighters worked tirelessly throughout yesterday and overnight responding to a number of significant wildfire incidents across North Wales.
“Significant work continues at Conwy Mountain and we will continue to monitor conditions closely throughout the day.I would like to thank local communities for their patience and co-operation, and our firefighters, Control Room staff, partner agencies for their ongoing support.
“Members of the public are asked to continue avoiding affected areas. Residents in Dwygyfylchi and Penmaenmawr should keep windows and doors closed if affected by smoke and follow Public Health Wales advice.
One Synchant Pass resident Rita Raweily was one of more than 30 people evacuated from their homes.
Ms Raweily told BBC R4’s Today programme that the fire came perilously close to her property: “It was very close. Many of us in that area, well most of us in that area were evacuated yesterday (Sunday). I still can’t get back to our property. Thankfully someone took pity on us and took us in.”
Ms Raweily joined a friend to make cups of tea for firefighters as they worked tirelessly to fight the flames and praised the incredible community spirit.
She said: “A friend of mine and I were running around trying to make cups of tea for firefighters because your practical side kicks in but it was pretty scary.
“It’s just such a lovely community. The community spirit yesterday was absolutely amazing. Everyone out helping, everyone supporting. People taking others in. it was just a fantastic community spirit.”
Assistant chief fire officer Anthony Jones said his teams had been at the scene of the Conwy mountain wildfire since 2.15am on Sunday.
He added: “Approximately 200 acres of land have been affected and to just give some scale to the fire front at the height of the incident was about 1.6km so a really large significant incident for us on very difficult terrain and we are expected to be there for some time.
“Obviously we are expecting more heat today and as the temperature develops around the area this morning and into today we would expect to see the fire develop again but our crews have been planning throughtout the evening to prepare for that.”
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