A wildfire in Rhyd Uchaf, Gwynedd is currently being brought under control by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service officers.

Crews have been in attendance for over 24 hours, with a total of eight appliances, a wild fire unit and a helicopter dispatched to the scene.
The fire, which was monitored overnight before officers redeployed early this morning (26 March), spanned an area of 180 acres and caused significant land damage.

A controlled burn which then escalated into a wider area is suspected to have caused the fire.
NWFRS Area Manager Paul Scott provided an update from the scene and urged the public to be cautious when planning controlled burns.

He said: “This fire has now been brought under control, and we are currently dealing with isolated hotspots.

“The damage to the land is extensive and we do now believe this was a controlled burn by a landowner, which has ultimately ignited an entire hillside.
“Anyone considering a controlled burn needs to have a burn plan in place and should inform the relevant fire service of the time, date and location of the burn.

“Also consider whether a controlled burn is strictly necessary, because there are significant risks involved - particularly when the weather is dry or hot.

“It’s disappointing that this is the second major land fire we’ve had to deal with in Gwynedd in the last few days – following the incident at Mynydd Mawr earlier this week.
“Incidents like these place a huge strain on our resources and are entirely avoidable if the correct safety plans are followed beforehand.”