Cairngorms wildfire 'contained', but very high risk remains

Firefighters have contained a large-scale wildfire at Cairngorms National Park, but a very high risk of further blazes remains in place.

Scotland's justice secretary Neil Gray said the fire was "currently contained" thanks to "exceptional work of firefighters".

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said six appliances were still at the site with flames continuing at a "steady pace". Nearby homes remain evacuated.

The blaze began near Ryvoan Bothy, south of Nethy Bridge, at about 11:50 on Wednesday and spread across more than two miles (3.5km) of dry land in 24 hours.

Gray, whose ministerial responsibilities include the SFRS, also praised police, land managers and volunteers for "an outstanding job keeping people, property and the natural environment as safe as possible".

Gray added: "I ask everyone in the affected area to continue following advice from the authorities.

"Public safety is the priority, which is why the decision to evacuate a campsite and various properties has been taken as a precautionary measure.

"The Scottish government continues to monitor the situation closely and the SFRS has confirmed they have adequate resources committed to this incident."

The SFRS said there were no reported casualties and it was "far too early" to identify the cause of the fire.

Police have helped walkers off the hill and advised anyone still in the area to get to safety.

A very high wildfire warning for central Highlands, southern and eastern Scotland remains in place until Monday.

Members of the public have been urged to avoid Glenmore Forest Park and Loch Morlich as the firefighting operation continues.

SFRS deputy assistant chief officer Ian McMeekin said: "This remains a protracted incident, and I want to thank our firefighters for their continued commitment and determination in challenging conditions."

• As it happened: Firefighters battle major Cairngorms wildfire

McKeekin urged members of the public to be responsible when enjoying the outdoors.

"The wildfire risk across Scotland remains high," he said.

"We are asking everyone to follow the advice in place, stay away from the affected area and help reduce the risk of further wildfires while our crews continue their work to bring this incident to a safe conclusion."

Advice includes taking picnics instead of disposable barbeques, not leaving litter behind - especially glass - and disposing of cigarettes fully.

Police said that evacuations had been carried out as a precaution, and that the C7 road - known locally as Ski Road - has been closed.

A spokesperson for the force said: "Anyone walking in the Cairngorms should avoid the area and let family or friends know when they have returned."

Earlier the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) sent all staff on duty to the scene, as the blaze is on the southern boundary of the Loch Garten Nature Reserve in Abernethy, which it owns.

RSPB Scotland said approximately 300 hectares of land had been burned so far.

The charity said 27 of its staff and volunteers were tackling the blaze on Wednesday, using equipment including all-terrain vehicles with water bowsers, backpack hoses and shovels.

The fire is not a risk to ospreys that are located about six miles away, an RSPB Scotland spokesperson said.

However, BBC Scotland News understands there are capercaillie - a large woodland grouse - around Ryvoan.

A number of campers and residents in nearby villages were evacuated on Wednesday evening as smoke billowed over the hills.

Angela McCusker, from Bishopton in Renfrewshire, was staying at the Glenmore Campsite when she was told to pack up her belongings and leave for safety reasons.

"Many other families were not so lucky," she told BBC Scotland News. "Lots of people had gone out for the evening and returned to find they couldn't get back into the campsite.

"They were left without access to their cars, clothing, medication and other essential belongings. Some had nothing with them except the clothes they were wearing."

She said they were directed to a nearby hotel where there were families, including young children, "lying asleep on the foyer floor as they had nowhere else to go."

George Hobbins, from Hamilton, has been at the Aviemore Resort Hotel since Wednesday night after his campsite was evacuated.

The 73-year-old said campers were initially told it was safe to remain on the site after the wildfire smoke was spotted.

"We could see the smoke and have since found that the local houses were told to evacuate at 15:00, but the campsite was forgotten about until 20:00," he said.

"The mountain rescue people were very good, they shuttled us up to the resort here."

A spokesperson for RSPB Scotland said colleagues from neighbouring Wildland Ltd and Rothiemurchus Estates were in attendance using fogging units on ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) and water pumps.

At the time he said the fire was travelling south to neighbouring land owned by Forest and Land Scotland.

The charity also attempted to get a private helicopter to assess the fire, but resources were unavailable as they were attending fires in England.

Capercaillie, which nest on the ground, have been spotted near Ryvoan as recently as May and there are RSPB signs along walking paths warning members of the public not to approach them.

The capercaillie is a native species that became extinct in Britain in the mid-18th Century but were reintroduced in Perthshire in 1837.

Earlier this year, the National Park and NatureScot announced an emergency plan to boost numbers in the Cairngorms.

Breeding male capercaillies have increased by 50% since 2020, but numbers had declined as a result of habitat loss, eggs being eaten and the birds flying into deer fences.

A visitor centre which runs guided trips to see free-ranging reindeer in the area said that the animals had been let out onto the mountains, adding "they are not close to the fire and will keep themselves safe".

Cairngorms National Park Authority said firefighters had been working with landowners to contain the incident and create fire breaks, with high winds causing the fire to spread across areas of trees and woodland.

A spokesperson for the authority said: "The ongoing incident near Ryvoan Bothy is deeply concerning, and we are grateful to all those who are working to tackle the fire."

Ross Ewing, from Scottish Land and Estates, said the incident was "clearly serious and fast-moving" and urged members of the public to keep routes clear for emergency vehicles.

He also encouraged landowners and land managers to take precautionary measures including the readying of specialist fire equipment.

Staff at Glenmore Outdoor Centre, which is near the blaze, asked people not to travel to the area.

SFRS wildfire tactical adviser Kevin Dingwall urged the public to take "simple steps" to prevent fires from starting.

He said: "Hot, dry conditions increase the risk of wildfire across Scotland. Even if a warning is not in place where you live, we ask everyone to stay vigilant.

"Wildfires can destroy property, landscapes and wildlife. That's why it's so important that everyone takes extra care during these conditions."

If you see a large outdoor fire, call 999 immediately. Give the location and any other relevant information so fire crews can respond quickly.