Scottish Justice Secretary Neil Gray has been criticized for his handling of the response to a wildfire in the Cairngorms, with accusations of mismanagement and attempts to shift blame to the Met Office for the Scottish Government's response. The wildfire, which began on July 15, spread rapidly, prompting evacuations and a prolonged effort by firefighters.
Gray, who is responsible for emergency planning, stated on July 22 that the blaze had been contained. However, on the evening of July 26, a major incident was declared as strong south-westerly winds increased the fire's intensity, posing a risk to the village of Nethy Bridge. Gray claimed in a BBC interview that the government had not been warned of a sudden and drastic change in weather conditions, attributing decisions to weather forecasting evidence. He also mistakenly stated the wind had changed to a northerly direction.
These claims were refuted by the Met Office, which stated it had been working closely with Scottish authorities to provide weather forecast information to aid their decision-making. Meteorologist Clare Nasir had previously warned on July 18 of strengthening winds from the south-west into the early hours of July 19.
Critics, including Scottish Conservative MSP Tim Eagle, have accused Gray and the Scottish National Party (SNP) of mismanagement and "playing games." Eagle stated that while ministers were engaged in perceived political maneuvering, local residents faced evacuation, firefighters risked their lives, and communities sought action.
Concerns were also raised regarding Gray's admission of requesting helicopters from the UK Government that he knew were not available for firefighting. Gray stated this was to "test for certain what we were getting [told] informally." The Scottish Government had previously rejected an offer of UK Government support, including Chinook helicopters, with then-First Minister John Swinney stating that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) had confirmed they had adequate resources.
Sandy McCook, chairman of Nethy Bridge Community Council, called Gray's statements "patent nonsense," accusing ministers of being ill-prepared and suggesting a less urgent response compared to a hypothetical fire at Edinburgh Castle. The ongoing situation led to the cancellation of the Abernethy Highland Games, scheduled for the following month.
Firefighters continued their efforts to contain the wildfire, constructing firebreaks to prevent its spread toward residential areas. Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour indicated that significant resources would likely remain on-site into the following week due to the dynamic nature of the incident. The village of Nethy Bridge was no longer in danger due to a subsequent shift in wind direction. The blaze continues to be battled by firefighters, with the protracted response drawing significant public and political attention.