Cairngorm residents say wildfire response ‘too slow’
Locals Question Delayed Emergency Response as Cairngorms Blaze Continues
Community Frustration Mounts Over Evacuation Timing
Constantvpn.com – Residents in the Cairngorms region have voiced strong concerns regarding how authorities managed a persistent wildfire that has now raged for ten consecutive days. Following a shift in weather conditions on Friday evening, authorities grew increasingly worried that the flames were advancing toward Nethy Bridge, prompting them to declare a major incident and order evacuations. However, many locals felt the decision arrived too late and criticized the Scottish government for hesitating to escalate its response efforts.
Neil Gray, who serves as the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, defended the official position. He stated that both emergency services and government bodies had dedicated themselves fully to containing the situation throughout this substantial event.
Throughout this significant incident, the government and the emergency services have given everything to ensuring that the fire is being addressed.
Earlier Action Could Have Prevented Crisis
Sandy McCook, leader of the Nethy Bridge community council, argued that the major incident status should have been announced much sooner. Although officially declared on Friday, McCook noted that local officials had been requesting this designation for more than seven days. The final decision reportedly came at 10:00 PM the previous evening. By 4:00 AM on Friday morning, the fire service had commandeered the hotel dining room for operations.
Describing the scene, McCook mentioned approximately twenty fire engines stationed in the village, alongside two helicopters circling overhead. Bulldozers were also actively clearing sections of Abernethie Forest, an action he called “a very necessary evil” that perhaps could have been avoided with earlier intervention.
We had the opportunity to get this fire out last Wednesday, the day it happened. It was first reported it was the size of a small car. Within an hour, it was the size of a tennis court.
McCook emphasized that insufficient communication came from government officials to those familiar with the local terrain. He felt too many critical choices were made remotely in Edinburgh rather than by people on the ground. Meanwhile, volunteers from across Scotland arrived to assist, with many working twenty-four-hour shifts on the hillsides—a demonstration McCook described as showing the “resilience of the Highlands.”
Evacuation Chaos and Resource Concerns
John McGlinchey, a local resident, made the decision to depart his home around 4:00 PM on Friday after spotting flames visible from his front door. He explained that the formal evacuation process didn’t begin until approximately 8:00 PM, and his doorbell finally rang near midnight to request everyone leave. Fortunately, he and his family had already departed by then.
McGlinchey expressed deep fear that the whole village might be destroyed, calling the arrival of rain an “absolute godsend” that helped suppress the flames. However, he worried about potential re-ignition and stressed that a fixed-wing aircraft was needed to transport larger quantities of water to the affected areas.
Even though people might think it was under control, you should always have precautions in place, you should always have contingencies in place – and both of those things weren’t put in place.
He also criticized the organization of the evacuation, noting that while intentions were good, execution lacked coordination. McGlinchey suggested that outside help beyond the local authority was essential, even though local officials were doing their utmost.
Government Defends Its Approach
Evacuated residents are currently staying at a dedicated respite center located at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort. McGlinchey mentioned that some people had to sleep on hotel floors due to insufficient room availability.
Neil Gray maintained that all decisions regarding fire management were based on evidence. He clarified that the government follows guidance provided by emergency services when determining its response strategy. Gray confirmed that every possible resource available to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was being deployed.
The Cabinet Secretary added that the government had contacted the military requesting additional helicopter support after exhausting all commercially available options, though no response had been received yet. He noted that two helicopters would operate on Saturday, with more arriving on Sunday, all sourced commercially under a contract managed by NatureScot.
The fire initially erupted near Glenmore village last Wednesday, forcing evacuations of residents and campers. At its peak, the flames consumed roughly six square kilometers of heather and young trees, with over five hundred firefighters working to contain it. In an update on Saturday morning, officials continued to monitor conditions closely as resources remained stretched thin across the region.
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