Crowbank KennelsKennel owners say they had to drive through flames to evacuate dogs and cats in their care after a wildfire broke out in Cumbernauld.
Emergency services were called to reports of a wildfire off Fannyside Road at around 8.42pm on Thursday.
Eran Yehudae, and his wife, who own Crowbank Kennel, were putting the 25 dogs and ten cats in their care to bed when they had to evacuate.
As they noticed smoke and flames getting closer to their property, they decided to evacuate, including moving the dozens of animals in their care.
Crowbank Kennel,“It was really daunting, thankfully we called our neighbour, who was able to help us begin moving them all over,” Mr Yehudae told STV News.
The couple had to make multiple trips back and fourth to get all the animals to safety, and said at one point there were flames on the road.
“It was very scary. Flames were basically on the road. It was like out of a movie. We had to drive through them to get to the remaining dogs,” he added.
Mr Yehudae said they were working on the evacuation from 10pm until around 1am, and worried they may not be able to get all the animals out.
“We ended up getting escorted by firefighters who helped us get all the animals to safety, which was really good,” he said.
Mr Yehudae described the experience as “quite an ordeal” and worried they wouldn’t have a home to return to.
“It was really scary, it’s not just out business, it’s our home too so we had to decide within minutes what to grab, unsure whether the flames would reach our home,” he added.
“It’s the animals too, you get attached to them as you’re looking after them and want to make sure they’re safe.”
The flames didn’t reach the kennel and home, and the couple were able to get back in at around 6am on Friday.
However, the fire remains ongoing, with Scottish Fire and Rescue Services still at the scene.
Mr Yehudae said they may have to evacuate the area again.
Police Scotland confirmed Fannyside Road remains closed between Forest Road and the B803 Greengairs Road, due to the blaze.
Residents in the Abronhill area of Cumbernauld and Bonnybridge have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke.
It comes after SFRS issued an “extreme risk” alert across the whole of Scotland from Friday, April 11, until Saturday, April 12.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 8.40pm on Thursday, April 10, to reports of a large area of grass on fire in the Fannyside Road area, Cumbernauld.
“At its height, Operations Control mobilised six fire appliances where firefighters are still working to extinguish a fire affecting three large areas of grass.
“There are no reported casualties, and six fire appliances and other resources remain at the scene.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Fannyside Road is currently closed between Forest Road, Cumbernauld, and the B803 Greengairs Road due to a wildfire on adjacent grassland.
“Police Scotland was made aware of the fire around 9.40pm on Thursday, April 10.
“The incident is ongoing, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service remains in attendance.
“Members of the public are advised to avoid the area while emergency services respond.
“Residents in the Abronhill area of Cumbernauld and Bonnybridge are advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke in the area.”
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