Residents return home as Cairngorms fire no longer ‘immediate threat’

Residents of the highland village Nethy Bridge have been allowed to return home after a large wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park was no longer deemed to be an “immediate threat”.

The blaze has raged for the past 10 days and forced the evacuation of homes in the remote region.

Police Scotland said the fire is no longer being considered a major incident after work to contain it reduced the risk to nearby communities.

On Saturday night, Superintendent Judy Hill, of Police Scotland, said there is “no longer the immediate threat which prompted the evacuation of properties in Nethy Bridge.”

This is thanks to the efforts of “fire crews, gamekeepers, contractors, partners and many others over the past 24 hours”, she said.

First Minister John Swinney welcomed the news, saying: “Efforts to tackle the wildfire in the Cairngorms are in their tenth day, and changeable weather conditions have presented a range of challenges for those on the ground. I praise their resilience and tireless efforts to bring it under control.

“With residents in Nethy Bridge now able to return to their homes, Police Scotland have lifted the Major Incident declaration.

He added: “I want to stress however, that the Scottish Government, the emergency services and all relevant authorities will continue to treat this wildfire, as has been the case since its onset, with the utmost seriousness and necessary resources until the last flames are out.”

Earlier that day, Mr Swinney said: “A request has been made today to the UK Government for military assistance in aerial support that can be used to supplement existing resources that are being deployed to tackle the Cairngorms wildfire and we await a response.”

Sandy McCook, chairman of the Nethy Bridge and Vicinity Community Council, said residents of the Cairngorms village could see large plumes of smoke from the wildfire on Friday before they were evacuated.

Speaking to the Press Association on Saturday, Mr McCook said: “Apocalyptic is the word for the pall of smoke that was on the go yesterday.”

The smoke has changed direction, and on Saturday at midday he said it was blowing towards Aberdeenshire and the North Sea, but the flames were still “very plain to see” from the outskirts of Nethy Bridge.

Emergency services previously said significantly changed weather conditions, including stronger winds, have contributed to the unpredictable behaviour of the blaze.