First Minister John Swinney led a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) to address a wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park. Following Police Scotland’s declaration of the blaze as a major incident, residents in the Nethy Bridge area were evacuated as a precaution due to changing weather conditions exacerbating the fire’s erratic behavior.
Affected residents were directed to seek shelter at the Macdonald Aviemore Hotel, with access roads to Nethy Bridge being closed for safety measures. The meeting, attended by various ministers and emergency service representatives, discussed strategies to manage the situation. Resources from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) are focused on creating fire breaks, with additional police support aiding in evacuation efforts, especially for vulnerable individuals.
Expressing gratitude to the first responders, Swinney emphasized the collaborative efforts to contain the fire since its initial report. Superintendent Judy Hill highlighted the challenging weather conditions in the Cairngorms adding complexity to the situation, leading to the evacuation decision.
The SFRS confirmed a continuous operational response to the wildfire, involving over 500 firefighters and specialized equipment over the past nine days. Deputy assistant chief officer Kenny Barbour acknowledged the demanding operational environment due to dry conditions, strong winds, and rugged terrain, necessitating helicopter water-bombing operations and specialized tactics.
Acknowledging the concerns of affected individuals, Barbour emphasized public safety as the top priority, urging compliance with safety instructions. Public access to the affected areas within the Cairngorms National Park is restricted for safety reasons during ongoing firefighting operations.
Swinney urged the public to adhere to safety guidelines and respect exclusion zones due to evolving circumstances. He noted the challenging nature of the situation, with weather changes affecting the fire’s progression. Smoke from the wildfire near Glenmore extending to Aberdeen signaled the severity of the situation, prompting evacuations in the area.
The wildfire, which originated near Glenmore, resulted in evacuations and covered a substantial area of heather and small trees at its peak. Stay updated on global wildfire developments through our live blog for the latest updates.