Cairngorm residents say wildfire response ‘too slow’

Neil Gray said decisions about how best to tackle the fire were being made “on the basis of evidence” and that the government was “taking the lead on the response from emergency services”.

He said: “We have made it very clear that all possible resources have been allocated by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Gray added that the government had approached the military to request additional helicopters, which “exhausts all commercially available helicopters” but has yet to receive a response.

The cabinet secretary said two helicopters were available on Saturday and more helicopters would be available on Sunday.

He said these came from the commercial sector and were under a contract managed by government agency NatureScot.

The fire broke out near the village of Glenmore on Wednesday last week, prompting the evacuation of residents and campsites.

More than 500 firefighters responded to the fire, which covered approximately six square kilometers of shrubs and small trees.