A helicopter has joined firefighting efforts as crews spend a third day tackling a major wildfire in the Cairngorms, which has led to evacuations and forced the closure of campsites and ski resorts in the Glenmore Forest Park area.
Fire started Wednesday, spread rapidly
The fire began in heathland at Ryvoan Bothy, near Nethy Bridge, late on Wednesday morning and spread to cover an area of around six kilometres by Thursday afternoon. An estimated four square kilometres (1.5 square miles) have been burnt, with the RSPB reporting around 300 hectares of land affected.
On Friday, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said more than 50 firefighters are at the scene, along with nine fire appliances and specialist resources. A helicopter is carrying out water-bombing operations, pumping water from Loch Morlich to support firefighting efforts.
Firefighters face 'protracted incident'
Area commander Lynne Gow stated: 'The deployment of a helicopter provides an additional operational capability which can be particularly effective across challenging terrain and in areas that are difficult to access.' She added that aerial support complements ground efforts to limit the spread of the fire.
Fire service deputy assistant chief officer Ian McMeekin described it as 'a protracted incident' and thanked firefighters for their 'continued commitment and determination in challenging conditions.' He emphasised that public safety remains the priority and that further evacuations may be necessary.
Government officials monitoring situation
Scotland's Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said on Friday it has been a 'very distressing and challenging time' in the Cairngorms. She noted that the fire is currently contained and that ministers are receiving regular updates. Justice Secretary Neil Gray, responsible for resilience, said he met with SFRS senior officers and was assured that adequate resources are committed to the incident.
Gray stated: 'I want to thank everyone involved in tackling this incident for their exceptional dedication and hard work... The SFRS chief officer has assured me this morning that adequate resources are committed to this incident, and we will continue to support them in every way we can.'
Strict cordon and public warnings
A strict cordon remains in place, and people are warned not to travel to the area or attempt to access Glenmore Forest Park, Loch Morlich, or the surrounding area while firefighting operations are ongoing. The RSPB said 27 of its staff and volunteers were out helping fight the blaze earlier in the week, using equipment including all-terrain vehicles with water bowsers, backpack hoses, and shovels.
The wildfire risk across Scotland remains high, with warnings in place for the central Highlands, southern and eastern Scotland until Monday. The fire service has urged the public to follow advice and help reduce the risk of further wildfires.
Other fires in Scotland
Elsewhere, firefighters are tackling a wildfire at Fauldhouse Moor in West Lothian, where four fire engines remained on site on Friday afternoon after being called at 5.52pm on Thursday. Another blaze is at Tentsmuir Forest in Fife, where three fire engines were sent at 12.50pm on Friday. There have been no reports of casualties at any of the incidents.
