Justice Secretary Neil Gray has stated that emergency services in the Cairngorms had “all resources necessary” to tackle the wildfires, amid criticism of the Scottish Government’s response. Gray said the Scottish Government would also be “reviewing” its response to wildfires.
His comments follow an offer from the UK Government to provide military support, including Chinook helicopters and stand-by battalions, after a request by Gray. However, First Minister John Swinney said the offer was unnecessary, noting that the Scottish Government had requested aerial water-bombing support but was told the Ministry of Defence did not have such equipment.
Assurances from emergency services
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast, Gray said: “I would say that throughout this process, I have been given assurances from emergency services that they have all the resources necessary from the earliest point in the incident, and the only element that was requested additionally is aerial water bombing capable support over the weekend.” He added that the UK does not have that military capability, so further support could not be obtained.
Residents of Nethy Bridge, evacuated on Friday night, were allowed to return home on Sunday. Police Scotland no longer treats the fire as a major incident.
Local criticism
Sandy McCook, chairman of the Nethy Bridge and vicinity community council, criticised the response: “I’m very disappointed in the Scottish Government’s response in general to this. Had we asked for UK resources a week ago, when this fire was clearly running away from the fire and rescue service, regardless of what was said by Neil Gray that they had sufficient equipment, etc, we wouldn’t have been still here fighting it now if that had been the case.”
Ongoing operation
On Sunday afternoon, firefighters said an “intensive operation” remains under way, but better weather conditions—including heavy rain and low winds—have slowed the fire. More than 75 firefighters are still at the scene, according to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Gray said the Scottish Government will be “learning” from the wildfires in the Cairngorms and elsewhere, mentioning fires in Derbyshire, the Peak District, Wales, France, and Spain. He stated: “We are needing to deal with a different dynamic here. Of course, the Scottish Government is reviewing … our resources and our response to wildfires, and we will certainly use learning from what has happened in the Cairngorms to do so.”
