Wildfire expected to spread due to heatwave as 36 homes evacuated

Major incident wildfire expected to develop after residents evacuated Image source, Rita RaweilyImage caption, Emergency services have been trying to contain the firesByBrendon Williams, Reporting fromreporting from Penmaenmawr and Oscar Edwards, BBC WalesPublished12 July 2026Updated 43 minutes agoFirefighters are expecting a wildfire that has forced people to evacuate their homes to develop with the hot weather. Crews remain on the scene after the fire, near Conwy Mountain and the Sychnant Pass in Conwy county, broke out on Sunday morning.Anthony Jones, assistant chief fire officer for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, told Radio 4's Today programme the service dealt with a "serious number of significant incidents over north Wales" and declared a major incident on Sunday afternoon. Jones said the services expected to be in the area for "some time", and that about 200 acres of land had been affected with a fire front of about 1.6km at the height of the incident. One family evacuated from their home said the fire reached their driveway, coming within 200 metres of their house.The fire service urged people to avoid the area, and told residents in nearby communities to keep windows and doors shut.Firefighters have been working in "challenging conditions" in order to contain the fire and protect local communities, said Jami Jennings, from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service."Wildfires can spread rapidly, particularly during periods of hot, dry and windy weather," Jennings said."We continue to ask everyone to act responsibly by avoiding the use of disposable barbecues, ensuring cigarettes are fully extinguished and reporting any signs of fire immediately by calling 999."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,"...