Highlands and Islands hit by outbreak of wildfires

FIREFIGHTERS in the Highlands and Islands have continued to tackle a spate of wildfires across the region.

Tinder dry conditions are being blamed for the series of blazes, which is taking crews away from their own stations.

More than 100 firefighters were involved in battling the outbreak of wildfires, particularly in the west coast, with serious blazes at Strontian and on the Ardnamurchan peninsula.

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At the height of the fire, flames reaching two miles across were encroaching on the village.

Multiple crews were also called to fires at Glenelg, North Tolsta on Lewis, Skye and Mallaig.

Much of the Highlands and Islands have not been affected by the heavy snowfalls hitting the rest of Scotland, but the freezing conditions has left land “tinder dry”, according to leading firefighters.

Due to the high number of incidents on the west coast and the islands, a number of crews were drafted in from elsewhere in the Highland and Strathclyde brigade areas.

Graham Robertson, a group manager at Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue, said: “It is very dry conditions over on the west coast. It has been all week.

“It is tinder dry. In the morning, when the frost disappears, the fires escalate again. The wind is whipping up the fires.

“Our command control centre is very, very busy trying to ensure all towns and villages are properly covered with fire cover.

“We have to move stations around so we can resource these fires appropriately.

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“We are asking members of the public in the countryside to be very careful, especially with naked flames.”

Legal muir burning is also being carried out at the moment by hill farmers and landowners. Fires are deliberately set to burn off long grasses and heather to encourage new grazing for sheep and grouse.