Cairngorms wildfire: Evacuated residents return home as 'major incident' downgraded
Many of the evacuated residents of Nethy Bridge were moved to a dedicated respite centre at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort
Residents evacuated from Nethy Bridge due to the Cairngorms wildfire can now return home.
Emergency services have downgraded the severity of the blaze, as “good progress” has been made in tackling the wildfire which has been raging for 11 days.
The announcement came after the Scottish Government’s resilience room, which is set up to respond to national emergencies, met late on Saturday evening.
It was attended by First Minister John Swinney, Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth, Justice Secretary Neil Gray, Rural Affairs Secretary Gillian Martin, and representatives from the fire service, Police Scotland, Highland Council and the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
Mr Swinney said: “Efforts to tackle the wildfire in the Cairngorms are in their 10th day, and changeable weather conditions have presented a range of challenges for those on the ground.
“I praise their resilience and tireless efforts to bring it under control.
“With residents in Nethy Bridge now able to return to their homes, Police Scotland has lifted the ‘major incident’ declaration.
“I want to stress however, that the Scottish Government, the emergency services and all relevant authorities will continue to treat this wildfire, as has been the case since its onset, with the utmost seriousness and necessary resources until the last flames are out.”
The fire broke out near Glenmore on Wednesday 15 July, with residents and campsites being evacuated. It covered six square kilometres of heather and more than 500 firefighters were tackling the blaze.
Residents in Nethy Bridge were told to evacuate on Friday evening and a major incident was declared over fears the blaze was moving towards the village.
On Saturday morning properties to the north-west of Dorback Lodge were also evacuated as a precaution, and a smoke advisory is in place for Tomintoul, with residents told to keep windows and doors closed.
Over the weekend two helicopters dropped up to 40,000 litres of water an hour to the areas affected and the military was asked to intervene.
However, residents living in the Cairngorms have criticised the government for responding too slowly.
Sandy McCook, leader of Nethy Bridge Community Council, said they have been calling for a major incident to be declared “for over a week”. He added that “bulldozers tearing the heart out of Abernethy Forest” was a “very necessary evil” that “could have been stopped”.
He said there had not been enough communication with people in the national park itself and too many decisions had been “taken from Edinburgh”.
Many of the evacuated residents of Nethy Bridge were moved to a dedicated respite centre at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort, however some residents said they had to sleep on the floor because there were not enough rooms available.
Mr Swinney added: “I have been heartened to hear of the cooperation and support from the local community - an appeal earlier today for assistance with the provision of plant machinery to help firefighting efforts was responded to quickly and no further equipment is needed at this time.
“We do ask for the continued patience of members of the public and their cooperation in staying away from the area both for their own safety and to enable those on the scene to focus on the task at hand.”
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