Fire crews warn of ‘unpredictable nature’ of wildfires after Cairngorms blaze
Fire crews continue to battle a significant bushfire in the Cairngorms, although officials report “significant progress” has been made in the past 24 hours.
The fire, which started late on Wednesday morning, saw the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) use significant resources.
On Saturday evening, SFRS confirmed that six fire appliances, two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), a Fire Support Unit and a water carrier helicopter were actively responding to the scene. Water bomb operations continue within the scope of efforts to control the fire.
Improvements were noted in areas such as Strathnethy, especially on the western and eastern flanks.
However, crews face the toughest conditions between 3pm and 6.30pm each day due to rising temperatures and the service is currently assessing resource needs for Sunday.
SFRS deputy chief executive Michael Humphreys reassured local residents but also warned against complacency.
He said: “We hope this update will provide reassurance to local residents and communities.
“However, it is equally important to manage expectations given the unpredictable nature of bushfire events and the ongoing impact of weather conditions.”
Mr Humphreys also expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts, adding: “We would like to thank landowners and agencies for their continued patience and cooperation throughout this incident, and our local communities for their partnership work.”
