North Wales Fire Service are urging people to take extra care when heating, or cooking in, a tent or caravan after a fire on a Bala campsite this morning. A 40 year old man is in hospital with burns to his hands and chest after an electric heater fell over setting his caravan awning alight.
This fire destroyed the family’s touring caravan. Fire can strike at any time, anywhere – and it is vital that we are all on our guard and try to do all that we can to keep safe. Caravans and tents are potentially more hazardous as the inherent risks are magnified in confined spaces.
– Paul Whybro, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service
Bala beat Port Talbot to qualify for Europa League
Bala have qualified for next season's Europa League after winning the Welsh Premier League play-off final.
The match against Port Talbot looked as if it was going to end goalless - but 88 minutes in, the visitors missed a chance before John Irving was ready for the rebound, scoring the winning goal.
A major exercise has taken place around the Bala area to test the response of emergency workers to flooding. It follows recent serious cases across North Wales.
It's hoped the exercise will better ensure emergency services are prepared to protect homes and communities.
Rescue teams carry out flood exercise in Bala, Gwynedd
A helicopter crew simulate a rescue on a Bala lake Credit: North Wales Fire and Rescue ServiceA boat crew practices freeing a person from a flooded vehicle Credit: North Wales Fire and Rescue Service
The team will practice a variety of rescue scenarios Credit: Rob Shelley/ITV NewsRescuers have simulated freeing people who are trapped in water Credit: Rob Shelley/ITV News
"Like many emergency responders, fire and rescue services are accustomed to dealing with floods which can have far reaching effects such as trapping people in their cars, threatening livestock and, at worst, threatening homes, livelihoods and even lives. The exercise in Bala is designed to put the combined skills, resources and equipment of all the emergency responders to the test and ensure that we are fully prepared for such incidents in real life.
"The exercise scenario will involve dealing with rescuing trapped casualties, carrying out fast flowing water rescues and deploying an array of flood rescue equipment and highly skilled staff in the Bala area.
"Flooding exercises such as this provide vital experience for those involved in the emergency services to test their resilience during difficult times."
– Paul Claydon, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service
Volunteer casualties prepare top be airlifted from a submerged mobile home during a similar training exercise Credit: David Jones/PA Archive/Press Association Images
A large-scale flooding rescue exercise is due to be held in Bala today. The operation is called Exercise Berwyn and will see volunteer casualties rescued from fast-flowing water and aims to simulate some of the worst flooding conditions.
An RAF rescue helicopter airlifts volunteer casualties during a similar flooding exercise Credit: David Jones/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Emergency services from across Wales and the rest of the UK will descend on Bala today to stage a large-scale flooding rescue exercise.
The drills will see representatives from all three fire and rescue services in Wales, North Wales Police, the RNLI and RAF Search and Rescue stage flood rescues around the Bala area in Gwynedd.
They will be joined by teams from Natural Resources Wales, Gwynedd Council, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, the RSPCA, Severn Area Rescue Association, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Automobile Association, and North Wales Mountain Rescue Association.
Police increase patrols after Bala murder of Branislav Gula
After the murder of a Slovakian man in Bala, Gwynedd on November 10th, North Wales Police say they're putting more patrols in place to "reassure" the public.
Additional high visibility patrols by local Community Beat Managers, Community Support Officers and Special Constables will take place as well as consulting with local councillors and other members of the local community.
I would emphasise that we will reach out to all groups within the community, particularly those from Eastern Europe to reassure that we are here for everyone and will address whatever concerns they have.
– Inspector Mark Armstrong, North Wales Police
Branislav Gula, 42, died on Plasey Street in the town on Saturday. Fellow Slovakian Julius Hecko, 23, has been charged with his murder.
A 23-year-old Slovakian man has appeared in court this afternoon accused of the murder of another man at Bala in Gwynedd. Julius Hecko was remanded in custody by magistrates at Caernarfon to appear before a judge at the town's crown court later today.
He is charged with murdering Branislav Gula, 42, at a flat in Plassey Street in Bala on Saturday 10 November.
