Scottish government officials have defended the response to a wildfire in the Cairngorms, stating that decisions were made on an "evidence basis" and that all possible resources were committed by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The fire, which broke out near the village of Glenmore last week, led to the evacuation of residents and campsites.
Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray stated that the government "takes its lead from the emergency services in terms of our response." He added that two helicopters were available on Saturday, with more expected on Sunday. These helicopters were sourced from the commercial sector under a contract led by the government body NatureScot. The government also approached the military for additional helicopter support, having exhausted commercially available options, but had not yet received a response.
The wildfire covered approximately six square kilometers of heather and small trees at its peak, with over 500 firefighters involved in the efforts. Residents of Nethy Bridge were evacuated on Friday, and a major incident was declared.
Residents in the Cairngorms area expressed concerns that the response to the wildfire was "too slow." The fire began near the village of Glenmore on Wednesday of the previous week, resulting in evacuations and the declaration of a major incident.