Cairngorm residents say wildfire response 'too slow'

Residents in the Cairngorms have voiced strong dissatisfaction with how a wildfire that has been raging for ten days was managed. Evacuations began late on Friday night after a shift in weather conditions raised concerns that the fire might advance toward the village of Nethy Bridge. It was only then that authorities declared a major incident. However, local people argue that this designation came far too late and that the Scottish government’s response lacked urgency and adequate scaling.

Sandy McCook, the leader of the Nethy Bridge community council, criticised the delayed declaration of a major incident, stating that calls for such action had been ongoing for over a week. He described the scene in the village during the fire emergency, noting the presence of around 20 fire engines, two helicopters overhead, and the use of bulldozers to create firebreaks in Abernethie Forest—a necessary but unfortunate measure. McCook emphasized that the fire could have been controlled sooner, recounting how the blaze grew rapidly from the size of a small car to that of a tennis court within an hour on the first day.

Local resident John McGlinchey shared his experience of the evacuation, explaining that although he left his home by mid-afternoon on Friday when flames were visible nearby, the formal evacuation plan only began hours later, and door-to-door notices came near midnight. He expressed concern about the lack of a contingency plan and the feeling that precautions were not adequately established even though the fire might have seemed under control. McGlinchey highlighted the exhaustion of local emergency services and argued that outside assistance was necessary, mentioning that some evacuees had to sleep on the floors at a respite centre due to limited hotel accommodations.

Responding to the criticisms, Cabinet Secretary for Justice Neil Gray defended the government and emergency services’ efforts, emphasizing that actions were based on the best available evidence and advice from firefighting professionals. He confirmed that all possible resources had been deployed, including approaching the military for additional helicopter support after commercial availability was exhausted. Gray explained that two helicopters were already in operation with more scheduled to arrive, coordinated through a government contract managed by NatureScot. The fire originally broke out near Glenmore village the previous Wednesday, leading to extensive firefighting efforts involving over 500 personnel and the evacuation of nearby residents and campsites. Meanwhile, authorities continue to strengthen firebreaks around the village and have issued smoke advisories for nearby areas, urging people to remain indoors and avoid exertion

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More