Neil Gray said a wildfire in Cairngorms National Park is “currently contained” after burning for more than 24 hours near Nethy Bridge. The blaze took hold at Ryvoan Bothy at about 11:50 on Wednesday and spread across more than two miles of dry land.
RSPB said approximately 300 hectares have been burned so far. Nearby villages and campsites were evacuated as the fire moved through the area, and crews remained at the scene while the risk of wildfire stayed very high across the central Highlands, southern Scotland and eastern Scotland.
Neil Gray on the response
Gray praised police, land managers and volunteers for doing an “outstanding job” keeping “people, property and the natural environment safe.” The Scottish government minister’s comments came as the response shifted from stopping the spread to holding the fire within the area already affected.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said six fire engines, one specialist wildfire unit and one 4x4 vehicle were still at the scene. That deployment shows the fire remained active enough to require a sustained response even after Gray said it was contained.
Andrew Baxter on fire planning
Andrew Baxter, the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said landowners and local groups have been calling for a new fire plan for the area. Speaking to Lunchtime Live on Radio Scotland, he said: “It is something I’ve been discussing with local landowners and other groups in the area.”
He also said: “I will be pressing the Scottish government about this, particularly concerns from landowners about access to helicopters that could help tackle these wildfires.”
Baxter added: “We risk seeing serious loss of life unless we have a robust fire plan with aircraft that can be called upon at short notice.”
Central Highlands wildfire risk
The blaze is contained, but the wider risk remains in place for the central Highlands, southern Scotland and eastern Scotland. For anyone in or near the affected area, that means the immediate fire has been held, yet the conditions that helped it spread are still there.
The fire started on Wednesday at Ryvoan Bothy, grew quickly across dry land, and forced evacuations before crews brought it under control. The next question is whether the pressure now shifts from emergency containment to the fire planning Baxter says local groups want addressed.
