Flaming June as wildfires erupt

More than 100 firefighters were utilised over two days to bring burning moorland in Caithness and Lochaber under control.

The heathfires flared up on Sunday night and continued into the early hours of yesterday, causing havoc to motorists and forcing police to shut roads.

A blaze at Canisbay in Caithness had spread over a two-mile area of peatland, but was brought under control early yesterday.

Winds had fanned the flames and smoke, resulting in the closure of parts of the A99 Wick to John o’ Groats road.

A total of 15 fire engines and 90 firefighters, many retained volunteers, were called to deal with the blaze, which has destroyed acres of heathland.

Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service (HIFRS) called in a helicopter to water-bomb the site late on Monday night. Firefighters continued battling the blaze overnight, finally bringing it under control early yesterday.

Units remained at the scene throughout the day to monitor hotspots, which might erupt into a fresh fire.

Meanwhile, another 20 firefighters were called to fight a second blaze on peatland at nearby Killimster.

Three more crews were called to remote Morar in Lochaber to extinguish another wildfire. They extinguished the blaze at 8:30pm on Monday, but not before it had destroyed 40 acres of moorland.

Again, units were remaining on scene yesterday for the potential of hotspots reigniting.

The fire brigade had to call in engines and firefighters from as far afield as Invergordon and Dingwall to deal with the Caithness outbreaks.

Both fires at Canisbay and Killimster had, at one point, been burning on a front of almost two miles.

Billy Wilson, head of operations for Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service, paid tribute to the “superb professionalism and commitment” of all of firefighters, control room staff and officers.

He added: “Wildfires are particularly arduous incidents, and as has been seen, can go on for many hours.

“Many firefighters had to do their second stint at Canisbay and Killimister, and it is a testament to their commitment to the communities, and to HIFRS, that they are prepared to attend again in such a short space of time.

“They have been ably supported by our officers and also our control staff, who have ensured that the resources needed to tackle these large fires have been provided whilst maintaining fire and rescue cover in other areas of the Highlands and Islands.

“All of our staff have responded tremendously to the needs of our communities. Many of our firefighters have been at these incidents for many hours and a number of them, having returned for some well-earned rest earlier in the day, have responded again to ensure that HIFRS continues to deliver the professional service which our communities have come to expect.”

While dealing with the wildfires, crews were also called to a blaze at a house in Dingwall on Monday night and rescued the female householder.