Wildfire Rages in Cairngorms National Park
More than 100 firefighters have been tackling a major wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park, which is expected to continue for several more days despite officials claiming they have "got on top" of the blaze. The fire erupted in heathland at Ryvoan Bothy, near Nethy Bridge, late on Wednesday morning and has spread to cover an area of around six kilometres by Thursday afternoon.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said crews had made "really significant progress" thanks to favourable weather conditions on Saturday, but the operation to quell the fire is likely to continue for "days to come". A number of homes and businesses, including campsites and ski resorts in the Glenmore Forest Park area, have been closed and evacuated as a precaution.
Evacuation and Safety Measures
Police Scotland said residents and other members of the public who have been displaced by the fire and want to return to the exclusion zone should report to the reception of the Macdonald Aviemore Resort between 10am and 12pm on Sunday. They will then be contacted when it is safe to return.
Jon Henderson, SFRS assistant chief officer, said: “The conditions have been very, very favourable, which has allowed us to really start to attack the fire in earnest and continue to contain it. The terrain is treacherous, it’s inaccessible at times, and it’s very, very difficult and very dangerous.”
He added: “We’re very positive about where we are now, but those things can’t change very quickly, and we need to remember that we’re dealing with a fire in a mountain range.”
Weather Conditions Aid Firefighting Efforts
Teams benefited from low wind and light rain earlier on Saturday. However, Henderson noted that wildfires were “weather-driven events” and the response could change depending on the severity of the temperature and wind. The fire service has issued wildfire warnings for the central Highlands, southern and eastern Scotland, with a very high risk alert in place from Wednesday until Monday, following days of hot and dry weather.
Criticism of Government Response
Sandy McCook, chairman of Nethy Bridge community council, criticised Justice Secretary Neil Gray, who said the fire was “currently contained” on Thursday, before the response was scaled up a day later. McCook told BBC Radio Scotland: “For Neil Gray to say the fire is contained is rubbish. They will not listen to local experts, gamekeepers, ghillies, farmers. People think contained means it is virtually out.”
The park still does not know what started the fire or the extent of the damage so far. A number of properties and premises in the Glenmore area were evacuated as a precaution, and people are being asked to avoid Glenmore Forest Park and Loch Morlich areas. The C7 road, known locally as Ski Road, remains closed at Coylumbridge.
Public Advisory
Police Scotland has asked motorists and travellers in the area to check their journeys before travelling. The force also asked residents to keep windows shut and to call NHS24 if they are concerned about symptoms.
