Scotland is preparing to place helicopters on standby to assist in wildfire suppression efforts, as the country grapples with an increasing number of incidents. The announcement comes after a significant wildfire in the Cairngorms that burned for nearly five weeks, requiring extensive resources and evacuations.
Justice Secretary Neil Gray stated that aerial water bombing, utilizing helicopters, was a critical component in extinguishing the Cairngorms blaze. The fire, which ignited near Glenmore, scorched approximately 10 square miles of moorland and forestry. At its peak, the response involved over 500 firefighters, and some homes and campsites were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority highlighted the effectiveness of two specialist helicopters in delivering water to difficult-to-access areas. Efforts to monitor for remaining hotspots in the affected region are ongoing.
This year, Scotland has already recorded 58 wildfire incidents. In comparison, rescue services in England and Wales responded to 342 wildfires within the first six months of the year, underscoring a broader trend of increased wildfire activity. The decision to have helicopters on standby aims to enhance the rapid response capabilities for future high-risk periods, drawing lessons from the recent extensive incident in the Cairngorms.