A major wildfire that has burned through hundreds of hectares of land in the Cairngorms National Park is no longer advancing, officials have said.
Experts fear recovery from the environmental damage could take years as the battle to contain the blaze enters its fourth day.
The fire started in heathland at Ryvoan Bothy, near Nethy Bridge, late on Wednesday morning and spread across a fire zone stretching 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 evacuated as a safety precaution.
An estimated four square kilometres of ground have been burnt by the fire, according to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).
But there were positive signs on Saturday that the fire was coming under control, with Aviemore reported to be “no longer in the immediately affected area” of wildfire operations.
WallisBen Jones, RSPB Scotland’s Abernethy site manager, said damp weather had helped crews gain ground.
“Today was significantly damper, which was a big help. It meant we could get on top of the fires,” he said.
“The fire is no longer advancing, certainly on Abernethy’s ground and, it’s understood, across the fire zone.
“We’re hoping we’re nearing the end of this event, but there are still hotspots throughout the fire zone and we’re by no means out of the woods yet.”
Gavin Miles, director of planning and place at Cairngorms National Park, confirmed the progress.
“We’re hearing positive signs a lot of it may be under control. People have been fighting really hard to prevent it travelling further over the last few days and protect properties nearby.
“The ground will be very hot in places, so they need to check the fire doesn’t spring up again. All the people there just now are likely to continue to be there the next hours and days, or longer.”
Estate workers, gamekeepers and farmers are among groups that have joined firefighters in the operation.
SFRS“It’s been a real community effort,” he added. “People have travelled some way to help to put the fire out.
“There will be lots of people in the National Park and beyond who will be saddened by what happened. As we get more images of the damage, I’m sure people will be shocked.”
With hot weather causing flare-ups across the area, the battle to bring it under control is likely to continue.
Firefighters say they are facing a “protracted incident” but insisted they have “adequate resources” to handle it. Around 50 firefighters were at the scene on Saturday using specialist pumps to draw water from Loch Morlich to establish firebreaks and contain the spread.
Area commander Lynne Gow noted that the use of a helicopter has been vital to the strategy.
“The deployment of a helicopter provides an additional operational capability which can be particularly effective across challenging terrain,” she said. “Aerial support complements the extensive work already being undertaken by firefighters and partner agencies on the ground.”
STV News“We’ve also considered the use of fixed-wing aircraft, but aerial assets are not the be-all and end-all. Conditions need to be right and they must fit into our tactical plan.”
Despite the progress, the emergency response has faced criticism from some local residents who waited more than 36 hours for a water-dropping helicopter to arrive, despite requests being made on Wednesday.
“One of the most concerning things is that this hasn’t been declared a national incident,” said Laura Hänsler, admin for Aviemore and Spey Valley Community Forum.
“This is an area of exceptional biodiversity. Lives and livelihoods depend on the tourist industry here, and we need military support.”
The fire service has warned the public to stay away from the area while emergency services continue to respond to the incident.
STV NewsA strict cordon remains in place, with no access to Glenmore Forest Park or Loch Morlich, to support firefighting operations and ensure public safety.
The Scottish Government defended the operation. “I’ve got the utmost confidence in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service,” said Justice Secretary Neil Gray, who holds responsibility for resilience within his portfolio. “As a national service, they’re able to draw on expertise and resources from across the country. Their response here, alongside other wildfires elsewhere in Scotland, demonstrates that expertise.”
For those living in the path of the flames, the stakes are incredibly high. Will Boyd Wallis, a resident of Abernethy Forest, captured images while helping tackle the fire.
“The thought of that fire spreading down to where I live is terrifying. If it got into the forest, it would be so hard to stop.
“That’s partly selfish, but I also love this area. The work the RSPB is doing to restore habitat is incredible.”
STV NewsForty-six RSPB staff and volunteers have been assisting on the front lines, utilising all-terrain vehicles equipped with water bowsers, backpack hoses, and shovels. The charity reported that around 300 hectares of its land have been burnt so far.
Mr Jones says the effects on local biodiversity are “devastating.”
“This is a regenerating landscape with lots of young trees coming through. We’ll have to wait and see how many survive and how many have been lost.
“We are very worried about the impact on young Scots pine and broadleaved trees from areas of natural regeneration and planting as well as impacts on invertebrates, reptiles, mammals and birds.”
Emergency services have reiterated warnings for the public to stay completely away from the area. A strict cordon remains in place, blocking all access to Glenmore Forest Park and Loch Morlich to ensure public safety.
In conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, the fire service has issued wider wildfire warnings for the central Highlands, as well as southern and eastern Scotland. The alert, warning of a “very high” risk of further wildfires fueled by the hot weather, remains in force until Monday.
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