Residents told ‘leave your pets’ as wildfires force them to flee Highland homes

A huge wildfire has been raging across Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands for days

Enraged residents have condemned the response to an “apocalyptic” wildfire tearing through the Scottish Highlands, with some being instructed to leave their pets behind as suffocating smoke engulfed their properties.

The vast blaze has burned across Cairngorms National Park for several days, sending enormous plumes of smoke rolling over Nethy Bridge before locals were ordered to flee. More than 500 firefighters have been tackling the inferno for 10 days as it continues to pose a threat to homes in the remote region.

Community council chairman Sandy McCook said villagers were left “upset, angry and frustrated” after witnessing the towering smoke on Friday (July 24), the Mirror reports.

“Apocalyptic is the word for the pall of smoke that was on the go yesterday,” he said. The smoke has since shifted direction, with Mr McCook noting on Saturday that it was now drifting towards Aberdeenshire and the North Sea, while the flames remained “very plain to see” from the outskirts of Nethy Bridge.

Duncan Ferguson, a resident in Glenmore near Aviemore, revealed that police visited his property last Wednesday and instructed residents to “leave your pets and go”.

He expressed concerns that the fire could continue to advance and damage properties unless it was brought under control swiftly.

“It’s going to be bad, it’s going to be major unless they get hold of it. It’s heathland at the minute, but it’s started to burn in the upper area of the regeneration of the Caledonian pine forest,” he added. “Once it comes down into there, it’s dry, dry ground, with a real load to burn. It’s just going to get hotter and hotter.”

Police Scotland declared a major incident, with evacuations under way and smoke advisories remaining in place throughout Cairngorms National Park. Emergency services had previously warned that powerful winds were causing the out-of-control wildfire to behave in an unpredictable manner.

“If you are affected by smoke, stay indoors where possible, keep windows and doors closed, and avoid strenuous outdoor activity,” the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) stated.

“Operators who can provide suitable plant machinery to support the ongoing multi-agency response are asked to report to the Village Hall in Nethy Bridge.”

In a further update on Saturday morning, Police Scotland confirmed that residents in a small cluster of properties north-west of Dorback Lodge (Lain Thatchan) had been evacuated as a precautionary measure.

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