Conwy wildfire at Sychnant Pass expected to spread in heatwave

Thirty-six homes have been evacuated after a major incident was declared following a wildfire in north Wales.

The blaze broke out near Conwy Mountain and the Sychnant Pass in Conwy county on Sunday.

About 200 acres of land had been affected, and one family forced to flee their home said the fire reached their driveway.

Anthony Jones, assistant chief fire officer for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, told Radio 4’s Today programme they were expecting the fire to spread because of the heatwave.

Jones said residents living nearby should keep windows and doors shut.

He added that about 200 acres of land had been affected with a fire front of about 1.6km at the height of the incident.

Speaking to Radio Wales Breakfast, Llinos Evans from North Wales Fire and Rescue said it evacuated 36 properties in Capelulo, which is near the mountain, on Sunday as a precaution.

She added that at any one time the service have had eight fire appliances, four narrow access vehicles and two wildfire units.

Michelle Campbell, 44, her husband Ben, 46, and their three sons fled their home in Capelulo as the fire reached their property.

“The sound was worse than anything. It was so loud, the crackling. You could hear it coming down the mountain,” said Ben.

He said he received a missed call at 04:30, but 30 minutes later a neighbour banged on their door and said: “The mountain’s on fire above your house.”