Cairngorms Wildfire Emergency: Major Incident Declared, Homes Evacuated!
Cairngorms Wildfire Emergency: Major Incident Declared, Homes Evacuated!
A major incident has been declared as a massive wildfire rages through Cairngorms National Park, forcing Nethy Bridge residents to evacuate. Learn more about the unfolding emergency and the tireless efforts of over 500 f
Police Scotland has declared a major incident as an enormous wildfire continues to rage through the beautiful Cairngorms National Park. The blaze, which first broke out on July 15, has been burning for over a week, with its behavior becoming increasingly unpredictable due to drastically changed weather conditions, including stronger winds.
As a critical precautionary measure, homes located around Nethy Bridge have been evacuated. Residents have been directed to a dedicated respite centre at the Macdonald Aviemore Hotel, and access roads leading into Nethy Bridge are now closed to the public. Superintendent Judy Hill stated that the decision to declare a major incident and evacuate residents was made as evidence suggested the fire was spreading towards the village.
Additional police resources have been deployed to assist in contacting those who need to leave their properties and to maintain cordons around restricted areas. This multi-agency response involves hundreds of firefighters, specialist wildfire appliances, all-terrain vehicles, and even helicopter water-bombing operations. Over 500 firefighters have been involved in tackling the blaze over the last nine days, working tirelessly alongside partner agencies to bring the situation under control.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has maintained a "significant operational response" since the fire began. Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour acknowledged the challenging and complex nature of the wildfire. The impact of the blaze is also being felt further afield, with smoke from the Cairngorms wildfire reportedly drifting as far as Aberdeen, highlighting the scale of this environmental emergency.
Officials understand this is a very concerning time for residents, businesses, and visitors to the Cairngorms region and assure the public that efforts are fully committed to bringing this incident to a safe conclusion as quickly as possible.
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