- Police have declared a 'major incident' over the Cairngorms wildfire as local residents express concerns about the response time.
- Residents criticized the response, stating it was 'too slow' and that evacuations were delayed until the fire posed a direct threat.
- Local resident John McGlinchey reported that the evacuation plan did not start until 20:00 and his doorbell rang at midnight, indicating a lack of timely communication.
- First Minister John Swinney chaired a resilience committee and stated that additional resources were being deployed to assist with the evacuation efforts.
- Community council leader Sandy McCook criticized the delayed response, stating the fire could have been controlled when it was the size of a car.
- The wildfire has caused significant disruption, including the cancellation of a wedding at Castle Roy and forced relocations of residents.
A major incident has been declared in the Cairngorms National Park as a wildfire continues to burn for over a week, affecting the village of Nethy Bridge.
More than 100 firefighters are battling the blaze, which has spread across approximately six square kilometers of land.
Residents were evacuated on Friday night after the fire threatened their homes, but many expressed frustration over the slow response from authorities.
Local resident John McGlinchey criticized the timing of the evacuation, stating, 'We had the opportunity to get this fire out last Wednesday', and that communication from the government was lacking.3
Nethy Bridge community council leader Sandy McCook echoed these sentiments, saying they had been calling for a major incident declaration for over a week.5
First Minister John Swinney acknowledged the changing conditions of the fire, stating, 'The wind has changed direction overnight', which has altered the fire's path.4
The Scottish government is deploying additional resources, including military assistance, to combat the fire, but residents remain concerned about the adequacy of the response.
A smoke advisory is also in effect for nearby Tomintoul, urging residents to keep windows closed due to smoke from the wildfire.
Neil Gray, a government spokesperson, stated that all available resources are being committed, but residents feel the situation could have been managed better.
Eccles remarked, 'It's a bit like closing the stable door now that the horse has bolted.'
“Local residents criticized the major incident declaration as 'pretty poor', saying it was 'closing the stable door after the horse bolted'. First Minister John Swinney chaired a resilience committee and said new fire breaks were being constructed after a wind shift reduced the threat to Nethy Bridge.”
BBC
