Firefighters Tackle Rhiw Mountain Blaze in Pwllheli, Wales 2026

Key Points

• A fire was reported at Rhiw Mountain, Pwllheli on Sunday.
• The North Wales Fire and Rescue Service stated that they had knowledge of the fire around midday.
• According to the service, their personnel were attending the fire and working on extinguishing it.
• It was recommended to the public that they should stay away from the site.
• Rhiw Mountain fire was not the only fire reported by the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service over the weekend.
• The first one was at Gwyddelwern, near Corwen on Saturday.
• It is a grass and woodland fire and the people who lived in that area were asked to keep their doors and windows shut due to the risk of too much smoke.

Wales Fire (Wales Times) August 23, 2026 — Firefighters were dealing with a fire on Rhiw Mountain on Sunday, with the public urged to stay away from the area until further notice.

North uk/fire/">Wales Fire and Rescue Service said shortly before midday that it was aware of the incident on the mountain near Pwllheli. The service confirmed that firefighters were in attendance and were responding to the blaze.

A spokesperson for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “We are aware of a fire on Rhiw Mountain, Pwllheli.”

The spokesperson added:

“We would like to reassure the local community that firefighters are currently in attendance and dealing with the incident.”

The fire service issued a clear request for people not to visit or approach the location while operational crews remain at the scene.

“Members of the public are advised to stay away from the area until further notice,” the spokesperson said.

No further details about the scale of the fire, its cause, any road closures, injuries or damage had been provided in the information released by the fire service.

Why has the public been asked to stay away from Rhiw Mountain?

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has advised people to keep away from the Rhiw Mountain area while firefighters manage the incident.

Emergency services routinely ask members of the public to avoid active fire scenes so crews can access the location and carry out their work without disruption. Keeping away can also reduce potential risks linked to smoke, changing conditions and emergency vehicles travelling to and from the scene.

The service’s statement did not specify whether any walking routes, roads or nearby land had been formally closed. Its advice was that people should stay away from the area until further notice.

Residents and visitors are being urged to follow updates from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and other relevant authorities for any change to the advice.

What did North Wales Fire and Rescue Service say?

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters were already attending the Rhiw Mountain fire when its statement was issued shortly before midday on Sunday.

The service said:

“We are aware of a fire on Rhiw Mountain, Pwllheli.”

It added:

“We would like to reassure the local community that firefighters are currently in attendance and dealing with the incident.”

The final part of the statement said:

“Members of the public are advised to stay away from the area until further notice.”

The statement did not include information about how many fire engines or personnel had been sent to the incident. It also did not state when the fire began, how large the affected area was, or how long crews were expected to remain at the scene.

Was this the second fire reported in North Wales this weekend?

Yes. The Rhiw Mountain fire was the second fire reported by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service over the weekend.

On Saturday evening, officers attended a grass and woodland fire in Gwyddelwern, near Corwen. In that incident, nearby residents were advised to close their windows and doors because of the possibility of excessive smoke.

The information provided by the fire service did not state whether the two incidents were connected. The Rhiw Mountain incident is in Pwllheli, while Gwyddelwern is near Corwen, and the service has not suggested any link between the fires.

The fire service’s response to both incidents included public-safety advice. In Gwyddelwern, residents were asked to take steps to limit exposure to smoke. At Rhiw Mountain, the public has been urged to avoid the area while firefighters remain in attendance.

What information has not yet been confirmed?

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service had not released details on several aspects of the Rhiw Mountain fire at the time of its public statement.

These include:

• The cause of the fire.
• The size of the area affected.
• The number of firefighters and appliances at the scene.
• Whether any properties, roads, footpaths or wildlife areas were affected.
• Whether anyone required treatment or evacuation.
• When the public may be able to return to the area.

The service has said only that firefighters are in attendance and dealing with the incident. Further updates may be issued as the response continues or once the scene is considered safe.

What is the background to the Rhiw Mountain fire?

Rhiw Mountain is located near Pwllheli on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, North Wales. The area includes open countryside and routes used by local people and visitors.

The incident occurred during a weekend in which North Wales Fire and Rescue Service also responded to a grass and woodland fire in Gwyddelwern, near Corwen. At that separate Saturday evening incident, people living nearby were advised to close windows and doors due to the possibility of excessive smoke.

No cause has been publicly confirmed for either fire, and there is no indication from the fire service that the incidents are related.

How could the Rhiw Mountain fire affect local people and visitors?

People living near Pwllheli, as well as walkers and visitors planning to access Rhiw Mountain, may need to avoid the area while firefighters continue their work.

The immediate effect is likely to be restricted access around the incident location because North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has asked members of the public to stay away. People travelling nearby may also encounter emergency-service vehicles or changes to access arrangements if further safety measures are introduced.

Residents and visitors should rely on updates issued by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and relevant local authorities before travelling to the area.