Major incident declared in north Wales as wildfires sweep England and Wales during record heatwave
Dozens evacuated near Conwy Mountain as firefighters battle blazes in multiple counties, with the heatwave set to persist into a second week.
Major incident in North Wales
A large wildfire on Conwy Mountain, near Sychnant Pass, was declared a major incident by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service on Sunday afternoon. Residents in the village of Capelulo were advised by the town council to leave and follow instructions of emergency services on scene. Others in nearby communities were told to keep windows and doors closed and seek medical advice if they experienced breathing difficulties. The service said operations were expected to continue for some time due to the size and complexity of the incident.
Firefighters remain on scene working in challenging conditions to contain the fire and protect surrounding communities, property, infrastructure and the environment. Due to the size and complexity of the incident, operations are expected to continue for some time. We would ask members of the public to avoid the affected area to allow emergency services to work safely and efficiently.
Fires across England
In Greater Manchester, fire crews tackled a moorland fire near Dovestone Reservoir, with high winds causing smoke to travel significant distances. In Camberley, Hampshire, a heathland fire that started on Saturday afternoon burned across about 10 hectares (25 acres) near the Surrey border, and crews were still damping down hotspots on Sunday evening. Over the weekend, wildfires also burned in County Durham, Derbyshire, East Sussex, West Sussex, Devon and Somerset. The County Durham fire was described as the size of 14 football pitches.
- Heathland fire breaks out in Blackwater, Camberley, eventually spreading to 10 hectares.
- Major incident declared in north Wales as wildfire burns on Conwy Mountain; evacuations in Capelulo.
Heatwave and fire risk
The UK is entering a second week of temperatures above the heatwave threshold, with amber and yellow heat health alerts in place from Sunday night to Wednesday night. Natural England said southern England and pockets of the south Midlands faced the highest wildfire risk over the next few days, and many other areas in England and Wales were at "very high" risk. By mid-week, the fire severity index shows large parts of the country will be at an "exceptional" risk, the organisation indicated, using information such as wind speed, temperature, time of year and rainfall.
Calls for caution
National Fire Chiefs Council wildfire deputy lead Dave Swallow warned that the hot, dry conditions significantly increased wildfire risk. He pointed out that most wildfires start because something provides the spark, mentioning disposable barbecues, discarded cigarettes and glass bottles left in sunshine. He also cautioned against drownings in inland water during hot weather and urged people to enjoy the outdoors safely as more schools break up for the summer holiday.
Most wildfires start because something provides the spark. Whether it is a disposable barbecue left behind, a discarded cigarette or even a glass bottle left in the sunshine, we all have a role to play in preventing them.
