A woman has described the terrifying moment she woke up to a huge blaze tearing across the mountainside above her home in North Wales. A major incident was declared in Conwy on Sunday evening in response to a massive fire at Sychnant Pass, which is continuing to burn and smoulder on Monday morning.
Fire Crews Remain at Scene
Fire crews are expected to remain at the scene for some time. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (NWFARS) said the fire is believed to have affected 200 acres of land, with crews battling a fire front of around 1.6km at its worst. A total of 36 properties in the village of Capelulo have been evacuated as a precaution.
Rita Raweily, one of the residents evacuated due to the fire at Sychnant's Pass, said the blaze woke her up early on Sunday morning. She told Radio 4's Today programme: "I could smell burning - we live just at the base of the mountain. Our dogs started barking manically, and I leapt up and thought 'Oh my goodness' something's on fire. I ran out and saw the fire, the smoke, on the mountain."
Community Spirit Shines
Ms Raweily said the fire is "very close" to homes and she is still unable to return to her property on Monday morning. A number of her neighbours were also evacuated. She described the whole situation as "overwhelming". "You feel totally helpless," she explained. "A friend and I were running around, trying to put kettles on to make cups of tea for the firefighters because your practical side kicks in. It was really scary because my husband and I spent the night not knowing if our property had been damaged or affected in any way."
She praised the community's response to the fire as "absolutely amazing." "Everyone was out helping. People were taking others in. It's just fantastic community spirit," she added.
Evacuations and Ongoing Efforts
Llinos Evans, of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, told BBC Radio Wales that a total of 36 homes had been evacuated in Capelulo, which is near the mountain, on Sunday as a precaution. It is not yet clear when affected residents will be able to return to their homes. Ms Evans explained: "It's difficult to say [when they can return] at this moment in time, because it depends on the way the fire is moving and wind speeds. We're hoping to be able to speak to crews on the ground this morning and provide an update for residents."
In an update on Monday morning, the fire service said it remains in attendance at a number of wildfire and grass fire incidents across North Wales. At Conwy Mountain, firefighters remain on scene fighting the blaze, maintaining firebreaks and monitoring conditions.
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."
