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Borth bog fire burns out on Ceredigion coast | Borth bog fire burns out on Ceredigion coast |
(35 minutes later) | |
A fire on bogland is out after dramatic scenes earlier of flames and smoke billowing over a nearby coastal village. | A fire on bogland is out after dramatic scenes earlier of flames and smoke billowing over a nearby coastal village. |
Natural Resources Wales said minimal damage was caused by the fire close to High Street, Borth, near Aberystwyth. | Natural Resources Wales said minimal damage was caused by the fire close to High Street, Borth, near Aberystwyth. |
Fire crews were called at 05:20 GMT on Friday and allowed the blaze, which covered about a hectare (2.5 acres), to burn itself out by early afternoon. | Fire crews were called at 05:20 GMT on Friday and allowed the blaze, which covered about a hectare (2.5 acres), to burn itself out by early afternoon. |
Resident Bryn Jones said the scene was "incredible" given the wet weather. | Resident Bryn Jones said the scene was "incredible" given the wet weather. |
The cause of the fire is not yet known but is being investigated. | |
Natural Resources Wales, which leases the land from the RSPB, said the fire appeared to have been restricted to surface grass rather than the peat. | Natural Resources Wales, which leases the land from the RSPB, said the fire appeared to have been restricted to surface grass rather than the peat. |
The Ceredigion coast has borne the brunt of the bad weather in recent times, with buildings damaged by high winds this week. | The Ceredigion coast has borne the brunt of the bad weather in recent times, with buildings damaged by high winds this week. |
The seafront at Aberystwyth needed repairs after taking a battering from stormy seas in January. | The seafront at Aberystwyth needed repairs after taking a battering from stormy seas in January. |
During the height of the fire, resident Mr Jones said: "You can see flames and smoke along the back of the village." | During the height of the fire, resident Mr Jones said: "You can see flames and smoke along the back of the village." |
Borth bog is part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve and is managed by Natural Resources Wales. | Borth bog is part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve and is managed by Natural Resources Wales. |
Bangor University wetland science and conservation expert Dr Christian Dunn said the scale of the fire had been "very surprising" given the weather. | Bangor University wetland science and conservation expert Dr Christian Dunn said the scale of the fire had been "very surprising" given the weather. |
"It may be that the area of peatland has drainage channels cut into it and the strong winds have helped dry off the top layer," he said. | "It may be that the area of peatland has drainage channels cut into it and the strong winds have helped dry off the top layer," he said. |
"There's no way of knowing at the moment though how it started. It could have even been from a lightning strike during the storms or perhaps the elusive will-o'-the-wisp. | "There's no way of knowing at the moment though how it started. It could have even been from a lightning strike during the storms or perhaps the elusive will-o'-the-wisp. |
"This, I'm afraid to say, is not caused by goblins or fairies but by the spontaneous combustion of certain gases from the peat bog; a fact which always seems to disappoint the students on Bangor University's wetland science course." | "This, I'm afraid to say, is not caused by goblins or fairies but by the spontaneous combustion of certain gases from the peat bog; a fact which always seems to disappoint the students on Bangor University's wetland science course." |
Borth and the surrounding area also featured prominently in the BBC Wales TV crime drama series Hinterland. | Borth and the surrounding area also featured prominently in the BBC Wales TV crime drama series Hinterland. |