Dramatic scenes as wildfire rages across hillside in Highland beauty spot

Teams of firefighters and locals have been battling a major wildfire in one of the most scenic parts of the Scottish Highlands since it broke out yesterday.

Emergency crews were alerted to the blaze, on a hillside in the north-west Highlands, on Monday afternoon.

A helicopter and six fire engines have been tackling the fire, near the remote village of Achintraid in the Kishorn area.

Local volunteers have also been helping beat out the flames.

The wildfire at Kishorn could be seen from the village of Plockton, across the water

The alarm was first raised at around 4pm yesterday, with the fire very quickly spreading across the hills behind Achintraid, moving into nearby Glen Mòr and towards Reraig near Lochcarron and .

Dry and breezy weather conditions helped fan the flames, driving their spread.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service appliances were deployed from Lochcarron, Kyle of Lochalsh, Broadford and Inverness to attend, along with community pump vehicles from nearby Torridon and Applecross.

Firefighters remained at the scene overnight in a bid to stop the fire spreading, including patrolling the properties that were most at risk.

A helicopter and six fire engines were called in to tackle the wildfire, which broke out on Monday afternoon

Residents in the area spent a fearful night as the fire raged close by.

Robert John MacInnes, whose lives in Achintraid, was one of those out on the hill assisting firefighters.

He said: “Locals quickly became very concerned for the safety of houses and of livestock so messages went around asking for help.

“Residents of Kishorn and nearby village Lochcarron managed to contain the blaze at a lower level using beaters, leafblowers and shovels, and by carrying buckets of water up from a small stream to wet the ground.

Locals and fire crews have been battling the blaze, on a hillside near the village of Achintraid, since Monday afternoon

“A group of residents also went further up the hill where the fire was spreading across the hills.

“Between these two teams, and working with fire service crews, we managed to put out the fire above the first half of the village, but the fires beyond this had spread to a worrying size and the second half of the village remained at risk.

“It was an incredible example of a community coming together in an emergency and time of need.

“By this morning the fires behind the houses were out, but remained in Glen Mòr and over to Reraig.

A helicopter, six fire engines and two community pump vehicles were called to the wildfire, which spread miles across the hillside driven by dry and breezy conditions

“A helicopter arrived on scene and has been working all day filling large buckets from Loch Kishorn and dumping water over the hillside.

“There is a huge feeling of relief now as the blaze seems to be getting smaller and smaller. But it was a very worrying night for many here.”

Fire crews remain at the scene, but it’s hoped the fire will be fully put out later today.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “We remain in attendance at the scene of a large wildfire near Strathcarron in the Highlands.

“Crews were first alerted to the incident at 4.20pm on Monday, 4 May.

“Operations Control has now mobilised six appliances to the scene, where firefighters are currently working to extinguish the fire.”

Volunteers from nearby villages worked tirelessly alongside firefighters from Kyle of Lochalsh, Lochcarron, the Isle of Skye and Inverness to control the rapidly spreading fire

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