Residents of Nethy Bridge have been permitted to return to their homes following an evacuation prompted by a wildfire in the Cairngorms. The decision to allow residents back was made after Police Scotland stood down the major incident declaration on Saturday night.
The wildfire, which had been burning for 10 days, led to the evacuation of Nethy Bridge residents on Friday night. A change in weather conditions had prompted the declaration of a major incident. However, an extensive multi-agency response, including the creation of fire breaks, significantly reduced the risk to nearby communities, according to Police Scotland.
Police Scotland's deputy assistant chief officer, Kenny Barbour, stated that the decision to stand down the major incident followed a detailed assessment by emergency responders. Firefighters will maintain a significant operational presence to conclude the incident safely, with 75 personnel on the ground on Saturday.
Despite the progress, some locals have voiced criticism regarding the handling of the wildfire, suggesting that the declaration of a major incident came too late and that the government's response was slow to scale up. First Minister John Swinney acknowledged the lifting of the evacuation notice but emphasized that the government, emergency services, and relevant authorities would continue to treat the wildfire with utmost seriousness until it is fully extinguished.
At a meeting of the Scottish government's resilience room on Saturday evening, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service reported good progress in strengthening fire breaks and a reduction in fire hotspots. This update contributed to the decision to allow residents to return to their homes.