The Cairngorms wildfire is likely to continue for several more days but officials say they have got “on top” of the blaze. It is the fourth day of the operation to control and extinguish the major inferno, which erupted in heathland at Ryvoan Bothy, near Nethy Bridge, late on Wednesday morning.
More than 100 firefighters have been involved in the operation as the wildfire spread to cover an area of around six kilometres by Thursday afternoon. 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.
As reported by the BBC, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said crews had worked to “get on top” of the blaze thanks to favourable weather conditions on Saturday and had made “really significant progress”. However, it is likely that the operation to quell the fire will continue for “days to come”.
Police Scotland said those 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.
View 2 ImagesOver 100 firefighters have been involved in the operation over four days(Image: RSPB Scotland/PA Wire )
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.
“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.”
He said teams had benefited from low wind and light rain earlier on Saturday. However, he added that wildfires were “weather-driven events” and the response could change depending on the severity of the temperature and wind.
Speaking to the BBC, 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.
Sandy 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 doesn’t know what started the fire or the extent of the damage so far. The fire service 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. It follows days of hot and dry weather in many parts of the country.
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.
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.
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