Cairngorms village evacuated as wildfire spreads in stronger winds
Authorities declared a major incident and evacuated Nethy Bridge on July 25 as an 11-day wildfire in Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park moved toward the village.
Authorities evacuated the Scottish village of Nethy Bridge on Saturday, July 25, after stronger winds accelerated an 11-day wildfire in Cairngorms National Park and pushed it toward the community.
Police Scotland declared a major incident and closed access roads as a precaution. Residents were taken to a respite centre at the Macdonald Aviemore hotel.
The fire began near Glenmore on Wednesday, July 15. At its height it covered about six square kilometres of heather and small trees, while smoke travelled as far as Aberdeen, roughly 97 kilometres from the ignition area.
More than 500 firefighters have been mobilised during the response. Crews have used specialist wildfire appliances, all-terrain vehicles and helicopter water drops while working with Forestry and Land Scotland, the national park authority, landowners and other emergency services.
Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, chaired a meeting of the government’s resilience committee as conditions worsened. He said firefighting resources were being concentrated on creating a firebreak.
Police Superintendent Judy Hill said changing weather had added complexity to the operation and that evidence showed the fire spreading toward Nethy Bridge. Residents of Tomintoul, about 16 kilometres east of the evacuated village, were advised to keep windows and doors closed because of smoke.
Emergency crews continued efforts to contain the fire on Saturday. Authorities had not reported casualties in the source material available to AddisMizan at the time of preparation.
