Mile-long mountain fire breaks out near Betws-y-Coed in North Wales

Blaze believed to have started as 'controlled fire' which then spread out of control following dry weather

Residents have been evacuated after a mile-long mountain fire broke out and spread into forestry in North Wales.

A family living in a house in Betws-y-Coed, Conwy county were taken away from the blaze, which created a “one mile fire front”, North Wales Fire and Rescue said.

Six crews and an incident command unit were at the scene alongside the police at the height of the fire.

Nobody is believed to have been hurt in the incident that was reported at 4.15pm on Friday.

It is thought that the blaze started as a controlled fire which then spread out of control, the fire service said.

Recent dry weather in the area has increased the likelihood of rural fires breaking out, according to the fire service.

The blaze was one of several grass fires that North Wales Fire and Rescue Service had to deal with on Friday.

Separate fires were also reported in Llangwyfan, Llandyrnog and Llansanna with most of the incidents believed to be a result of "controlled burning" involving grass, gorse and bracken.

Kevin Roberts, assistant chief fire officer, said: “Whereas the number of incidents is relatively small, each one is tying up resources and preventing us from attending other life threatening incidents.”

“The dry weather has increased the risk of rural fires and we would like to thank those people notifying us of their controlled burning and for them acting in a safe and responsible manner.

“The controlled burning season comes to an end on Sunday 31 March and in the meantime we continue to urge people to inform us of any plans to undertake burns – during the permissible burning period.

He added: “During drier periods, fires involving grass, bracken and heather can develop very quickly, particularly in raised winds, resulting in fires getting out of control and spreading to neighbouring properties or forestry, with the need for the fire and rescue service to be called out to extinguish them.

“We are also urging visitors to the countryside to take extra care when they are out and about and reduce the risk of accidental fires. Make sure that any smoking materials are discarded and extinguished properly. If you are out camping, again make sure that campfires or barbeques are fully extinguished.”