Firefighters have spent a second day battling a large wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, which has forced the evacuation of homes and businesses. The blaze, which started on Wednesday morning near Ryvoan Bothy, has grown to over 3.5 kilometres wide, with plumes of smoke visible for miles.
Evacuations and Closures
Residents in Glenmore, near Aviemore, were told by police to "leave your pets and go" as the fire approached. Duncan Ferguson, operations manager at the Spey Fishery Board, said police came to his house on Wednesday afternoon with that instruction. Businesses, including campsites and ski resorts in Glenmore Forest Park, have been closed and evacuated as a precaution.
No casualties have been reported so far. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has urged people to avoid the area and advised residents in Aviemore, Glenmore, and surrounding communities to keep doors and windows closed due to smoke.
Firefighting Efforts
At least four fire engines and other resources have been deployed. Ian McMeekin, head of prevention at SFRS, said they expect to be at the scene for the rest of the day. He told BBC Radio Scotland's Breakfast programme: "We're still fighting the fire, working with a range of different partners... Currently we have a fire front of just roughly about three-and-a-half kilometres wide. We are reassessing the situation, and our resources may change throughout the morning."
The RSPB, which runs the nearby Loch Garten nature reserve, reported that approximately 300 hectares of land have been consumed. The charity said 27 of its staff and volunteers helped fight the blaze on Wednesday, using all-terrain vehicles with water bowsers, backpack hoses, and shovels. The RSPB added that no helicopter support is currently available, believing all have been deployed to wildfires south of the border.
Public Concerns and Warnings
Some locals expressed frustration that tourists were still trying to access the area despite road closures. One anonymous local woman said: "The absolute selfishness of tourists – isn't that insane? 'There's a fire but we still want to go to Loch Morlich' – I think it's just ignorance."
Group commander Raymond King said: "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."
Ongoing Risk and Cause
The cause of the fire is not yet known. McMeekin said it is too early to determine what may have started it. The blaze comes as parts of Scotland are at very high risk of wildfire, with warnings issued by SFRS and the Scottish Wildfire Forum for the central Highlands, southern and eastern Scotland. The alert, in force from Wednesday until Monday, follows days of hot and dry weather.
Cairngorms National Park Authority said firefighters have been working with landowners to contain the incident and create fire breaks, with high winds causing the fire to spread across trees and woodland. A spokesperson said: "The ongoing incident near Ryvoan Bothy is deeply concerning... 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."
