A wildfire that broke out near Glenmore, outside Aviemore, on 15 July has left swaths of the Cairngorms National Park unrecognisable. The fire destroyed approximately 25 square kilometers (10 square miles) of moorland and forestry.
Reports on the duration of the blaze vary. The Guardian stated the fire had been burning for 12 days, while the BBC reported it had lasted for two weeks. Police Scotland declared the incident a 'major incident' on Friday.
‘Cataclysmic’ impact on landscape
Grant Moir, chief executive of the Cairngorms National Park, described the event as the worst the park had seen. Residents of Nethy Bridge were evacuated on Friday night due to strong winds.
McCook also stated that the situation was absolutely heartbreaking. Malcolm Smith, a farming advisor to the park authority, noted that visitors now pass through bare forest where birds fly about looking for their nests.
Response and resource debate
At the height of the response, more than 500 firefighters were involved. Three private helicopters were contracted to assist, depositing approximately 750,000 litres of water a day on hotspots.
Scotland's Justice Secretary Neil Gray rejected an offer of UK military support, stating it could not fulfill a specific request for water-bombing helicopters. The Scottish Green party subsequently called for publicly available firefighting aircraft during wildfire season.
The community council raised more than £50,500 from donations to provide meals for firefighters and volunteers. As of Sunday, at least 75 firefighters remained at the scene.
Cause and long-term recovery
The cause of this specific fire is unknown, though the vast majority of UK wildfires have a human origin. A national park bylaw banning campfires and barbecues over the summer was introduced in April.
RSPB Scotland said affected habitats should recover, but it is not known how long that will take. It has been warned that the damage could take decades to put right. The fire was still burning deep in the peat soil as of Monday evening.