120 FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE THREE WILD FIRES
UP to 120 firefighters tackled three wildfires across the region at the weekend.
Crews were spread out across hillsides in Tanygrisiau, Trawsfynydd and near Betws-y-Coed as flames left gorse bushes charred and smoking. It is believed the blazes were controlled burning which got out of hand.
High temperatures left the land tinder box dry which only helped the blazes blacken the ground while smoke drifted across the acres of rural Gwynedd and
Conwy.
Then at 1.40pm, 30 more firefighters and engines were deployed in Trawfynydd (inset).
Tim Owen, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service Community Safety Manager for Wrexham and Flintshire, has been working at the scene of a gorse fire near Trawsfynydd. He said flames burned gorse, bracken and molinia grass as well as spreading into a forest.
And on another front, 20 more firefighters rushed to burning land at Llyn Elsi near Betws y Coed, making a total of 120 members of NWFRS out on the hillsides at once.
These latest fires come after firefighters spent seven hours battling a wildfire which could be “seen for miles” on Friday.
The blaze at Rhyd Uchaf covered an area more than half a mile in length.