A wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park that started on Wednesday has forced the evacuation of residents and businesses, with firefighters battling the blaze through the night. The fire, which ignited in heathland at Ryvoan Bothy near Nethy Bridge late Wednesday morning, had spread to more than two kilometres wide by the evening, prompting closures of homes, campsites, and ski resorts in the Glenmore Forest Park area as a safety precaution.
Firefighting Efforts and Evacuations
Four fire engines remained at the scene at 6.45am on Thursday, with crews having worked continuously through the night. No casualties have been reported. Duncan Ferguson, an operations manager at the Spey Fishery Board who lives in Glenmore near Aviemore, said police instructed residents to leave their pets and go.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) urged people to avoid the area and advised residents in Aviemore, Glenmore, and surrounding communities to keep doors and windows closed due to smoke. Group Commander Raymond King stated: "While we want people to enjoy the good weather, we ask that anyone in the Cairngorms National Park near to Aviemore and Glenmore avoid the area. This part of the Cairngorms National Park is popular with hillwalkers, and we ask that people remain vigilant while active firefighting continues."
Collaboration and Fire Breaks
The Cairngorms National Park Authority reported that firefighters have been working with landowners to contain the incident and create fire breaks, with high winds causing the fire to spread across areas of trees and woodland. A spokesperson for the authority said: "The ongoing incident near Ryvoan Bothy is deeply concerning, and we are grateful to all those who are working to tackle the fire. We would echo the advice of SFRS to avoid the area while firefighters and partners work to bring this blaze under control. This incident – alongside wildfires we are seeing across the UK this week – serves as a stark reminder of the risks that periods of drier, hotter weather can pose."
Wildfire Warnings
The blaze comes as parts of Scotland face a very high risk of wildfire over the coming days. The SFRS, in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, has issued wildfire warnings for the central Highlands, southern and eastern Scotland. The alert, warning of a very high risk of wildfire, came into force on Wednesday and lasts until Monday, following days of hot and dry weather in many parts of the country.
