A 16 year old local youth has been arrested in connection with the fire that burnt in Blaenau Ffestiniog across the Easter Bank holiday.

The youth has been arrested on suspicion of an aggravated offence of arson, causing a public nuisance and assaulting a police officer, and is currently being questioned at Caernarfon police station.

Another man was arrested at the same time for obstructing police officers.

Insp Matt Geddes said: “The fire is being investigated as a deliberate and criminal act which put a number of family homes and businesses at risk, and caused the evacuation of tens of properties.”

“We are appealing for witnesses to come forward and notify the police of any information they have in respect of this incident, in order that those responsible can be brought to justice, and most importantly any further incidents that pose such a risk to the community can be prevented.”

Gavin Roberts, senior professional and service standards manager, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, added: “Deliberate grass fires put lives in danger this incident tied up valuable resources for a considerable length of time, putting not only our firefighters but also local residents at risk.”

“It will take the fire and rescue service longer to respond to life risk emergencies like house fires, or road traffic collisions if they are already tied up tackling a deliberately set grass fire.

“Deliberate grass fires can severely damage our countryside and our environment, destroy wild-life and livestock and cost the Welsh economy millions of pounds each year.

During the fire families were evacuated from 20 homes in Blaenau Ffestiniog and the A470 road was closed because of a hillside fire.

Appliances from a number of stations were called to the fire with crews rotating to give them some rest, at one stage five appliances were deployed in addition to an aerial ladder platform