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| Blaenau Ffestiniog mountain fire: About 20 homes evacuated | Blaenau Ffestiniog mountain fire: About 20 homes evacuated |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Families in about 20 properties have been evacuated from their homes as fire crews tackled a large mountain blaze. | Families in about 20 properties have been evacuated from their homes as fire crews tackled a large mountain blaze. |
| North Wales Fire and Rescue Service had 30 firefighters at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, overnight. | North Wales Fire and Rescue Service had 30 firefighters at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, overnight. |
| Eyewitness Chris McPhail said: "As I was driving up I could just see the glow and a load of smoke. It just looked like a volcano." | Eyewitness Chris McPhail said: "As I was driving up I could just see the glow and a load of smoke. It just looked like a volcano." |
| The alarm was raised just before 20:30 BST on Monday, with residents asked to leave in the early hours of Tuesday. | The alarm was raised just before 20:30 BST on Monday, with residents asked to leave in the early hours of Tuesday. |
| BBC Wales employee Laura Raymond said she was woken by firefighters "smashing open" fire hydrants at about 03:00. | BBC Wales employee Laura Raymond said she was woken by firefighters "smashing open" fire hydrants at about 03:00. |
| "The hill was literally glowing from behind," she said. | "The hill was literally glowing from behind," she said. |
| The blaze is thought to have started behind quarry workings in an area overlooking the town called Garreg Ddu - Black Rock. | The blaze is thought to have started behind quarry workings in an area overlooking the town called Garreg Ddu - Black Rock. |
| "Black Rock is like a huge gigantic lump of coal, with burning embers," said Ms Raymond. | "Black Rock is like a huge gigantic lump of coal, with burning embers," said Ms Raymond. |
| "We've been well looked after and the crews have done an amazing job. We're just so thankful because the crews have directed it away from the houses." | "We've been well looked after and the crews have done an amazing job. We're just so thankful because the crews have directed it away from the houses." |
| Police have closed part of Church Street through the town as fire crews continue to tackle the flames - but it is expected to reopen soon. | Police have closed part of Church Street through the town as fire crews continue to tackle the flames - but it is expected to reopen soon. |
| Teams from Dolgellau, Porthmadog, Blaenau, Harlech, Nefyn and Johnstown have been at the scene, with an aerial platform called in from Bangor. | Teams from Dolgellau, Porthmadog, Blaenau, Harlech, Nefyn and Johnstown have been at the scene, with an aerial platform called in from Bangor. |
| Many of the evacuated residents spent the night in a cafe, including Jackie Brunger. | Many of the evacuated residents spent the night in a cafe, including Jackie Brunger. |
| She told BBC Radio Wales' Good Morning Wales she was unaware of the blaze until fire crews arrived. | She told BBC Radio Wales' Good Morning Wales she was unaware of the blaze until fire crews arrived. |
| "It was just glowing orange and it was absolutely frightening - I've never seen anything like it. We were told to get away as soon as we could, so we took our car and went to the cafe. | "It was just glowing orange and it was absolutely frightening - I've never seen anything like it. We were told to get away as soon as we could, so we took our car and went to the cafe. |
| "There was ash and bits of flame coming down. How far it has spread, so quickly - it was frightening." | "There was ash and bits of flame coming down. How far it has spread, so quickly - it was frightening." |
| Sue Roberts opened up DeNiros cafe for those told to leave their homes, and helped keep fire crews and police teams fed during the night. | Sue Roberts opened up DeNiros cafe for those told to leave their homes, and helped keep fire crews and police teams fed during the night. |
| "It's been a bit busy," she joked. "It looked quite spectacular when you think about it." | "It's been a bit busy," she joked. "It looked quite spectacular when you think about it." |
| People have now started returning to their homes in the area, with firefighters winding down operations. | People have now started returning to their homes in the area, with firefighters winding down operations. |
| Councillor Anwen Daniels said she expected the fire service to have a presence in the town for the rest of the day. | |
| She said she thought Gwynedd Council would work closely with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service to prevent a repeat of the events on Monday evening. | She said she thought Gwynedd Council would work closely with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service to prevent a repeat of the events on Monday evening. |
| "Blaenau Ffestiniog is infamous for being a wet place - but when you want the rain, it isn't coming," she added. | "Blaenau Ffestiniog is infamous for being a wet place - but when you want the rain, it isn't coming," she added. |