North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has issued a reminder to people to stop and think about the consequences of grass and forest fires as crews continue to tackle a forestry fire in Llandderfel.

Firefighters were first called to the fire at 20.56hrs last night, Sunday July 21. Crews from Bala, Llangollen and Dolgellau originally attended the scene and tackled the fire until the early hours of this morning. Relief crews from Corwen attended overnight and crews from Bala, Dolgellau and Llangollen are now back at the fire with crews from Ruthin and Blaenau Ffestiniog and the Environmental Protection Unit from Wrexham for water supply  Crews are currently tackling hotspots using hose reel jets and lances to prevent reignition of the fire.

Meanwhile, fire crews from Pwllheli, Nefyn, Porthmadog and Llangefni dealt with gorse fires at the grounds of a holiday park in Chwilog, Pwllheli at 14.00hrs, 19.00hrs and19.44hrs yesterday and at 03.11hrs and 08.29hrs this morning. The original fire was thought to be started deliberately and the subsequent fires spread or reignited following this first incident.

Crews from Llanfairfechan extinguished a gorse fire at 09.25hrs this morning onPool Street, Llanfairfechan.

Bob Mason from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "Fires like this place tremendous pressure on resources, with firefighters tied up for a considerable length of time trying to bring them under control. These fires can also place lives and homes at risk, blight the countryside and waste large amounts of money.

"The current conditions and tinder dry land mean that these fires can spread very fast, and can be deep seated fires resulting in potential reignition.

"As yet we do not know whether the fire in Llandderfel was started deliberately or accidentally. We are urging visitors to the countryside to take extra care when they are out and about and reduce the risk of fire. Help avoid wildfires by never starting open fires in the countryside, extinguishing cigarettes properly, never leaving barbecues unattended and extinguishing them properly.

"Remember - setting fires deliberately is a criminal offence and we are actively working alongside North Wales Police to combat deliberate incidents, employing the police helicopter to pinpoint the fires and to look out for perpetrators. Any witnesses or anyone with information on such crimes are advised to anonymously callCrimestopperson0800 555 111. "