Emergency services urge people to stay away as Cairngorms wildfire operations continue

Emergency services are urging walkers, visitors and members of the public to stay away from areas affected by the ongoing wildfire incident in the Cairngorms National Park as firefighting operations continue throughout the weekend and into next week.

Significant progress has been made in tackling the fire, however substantial hotspots remain across a vast area of challenging and remote terrain. Firefighters and partner agencies will remain on scene over the coming days to tackle remaining pockets of fire, prevent reignition and monitor conditions.

The affected area remains unsafe for public access while firefighting operations continue, including helicopter water-bombing and ground-based activity.

Closed and restricted areas include paths around Glenmore, Loch Morlich and Badaguish, as well as low-level routes including the Old Logging Way and routes providing access to Cairngorm Mountain, the Northern Corries, Meall A’ Bhuachaille, the Green Loch (Lochan Uaine), Strath Nethy or Bynack More. Paths within Abernethy Forest to the south of Forest Lodge towards Ryvoan Bothy also remain closed.

Despite road closures, signage and police cordons being in place, emergency services continue to receive reports of people attempting to enter the affected area. Members of the public are asked not to bypass closures or travel into restricted areas, as doing so creates additional risks to public safety and places additional pressures on emergency services.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has maintained a significant operational response since the fire was first reported on Wednesday, 15 July. Helicopters continue to support crews, landowners and estate workers on the ground, targeting hotspots in locations that are difficult to access.

More than 100 firefighters have been mobilised to the incident alongside specialist wildfire appliances, all-terrain vehicles and partner agencies.

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Michael Humphreys said: “Our firefighters, specialist resources and partners have worked tirelessly over the past week in challenging conditions, and we continue to make good progress.

“While the overall situation is improving, there are still substantial hotspots burning across a large and complex landscape. These hotspots continue to require intensive firefighting efforts, both on the ground and from the air, and crews will remain on scene into next week.

“We are asking members of the public to continue staying away from the affected areas while these operations remain ongoing.

“This allows firefighters and partners to work safely and effectively, reduces unnecessary impact on the emergency services, and helps protect the public from potential hazards.”

Inspector Craig Johnstone from Police Scotland said: “We recognise the profound impact that these fires have had on the affected communities and the concerns they have generated in terms of potential property damage, evacuation from homes and loss of revenue.

“Our priority is ensuring the safety of the public and all decisions made during this multi-agency response have been done so with this in mind. This has been a dynamic and ever-changing incident, and several external factors have determined where road closures and exclusion zones have been implemented. These remain under continued review.

“Throughout the coming weekend, emergency services and other key partners will be continuing in their efforts to bring this incident to a safe conclusion, and we hope to update further on our progress towards the start of the following week.

“I once again want to offer my sincerest thanks to the public for their continued support and to recognise the outstanding work being undertaken by all agencies to return to normality at the earliest opportunity.”

The wildfire situation remains dynamic, and weather conditions continue to play a significant role. Strong winds have the potential to reignite hotspots and spread fire into previously unaffected areas. Operational activity will continue to be reviewed as conditions change.

SFRS crews will continue to monitor conditions closely until the incident is fully brought under control.

Colin Simpson, Head of Visitor Services and Active Travel at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “The Cairngorms National Park is a much-loved destination, and I know there will be visitors who are keen to return to the Glenmore area as soon as possible.

“It’s been really difficult for all of us who love Glenmore to see the events of the past week unfold, and this has also caused significant disruption for local businesses and livelihoods. We’re working closely with partners including Cairngorms Business Partnership, Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Business Gateway to ensure that businesses get the support they need through this challenging period and are helped on the path to recovery.

“As the weekend approaches, I’d encourage everyone to respect the access restrictions to give all those involved in the firefighting efforts the space they need to continue their work. Nearby destinations such as Aviemore are still welcoming visitors as usual, and there are plenty of other attractions and areas to explore across the National Park.”

Convener of Highland Council, Councillor Bill Lobban said: “This continues to be a live situation, with a very high wildfire warning in place until Friday and I urge everyone to heed the warnings from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in this extraordinary collective effort, with multiple partners including the emergency services, agencies, landowners, and community representatives, working side by side to protect our community, wildlife, and the natural environment from this devastating and wildfire.

“It is heartbreaking to see the damage caused to such a valued landscape. I would like to commend the support being provided by Highland Council’s housing and roads teams in the background, and ongoing work across partners to identify and support affected businesses within the exclusion zone.

“Businesses impacted by the ongoing response can also access free support from Business Gateway Highland at bgateway.com.”

Written by: Phil Briscoe

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