Emergency services have declared a major incident in the Cairngorms National Park as a wildfire continues to burn for its tenth day, forcing the precautionary evacuation of all residents in the village of Nethy Bridge. The decision to declare a major incident and order evacuations came after weather conditions shifted on Friday night, indicating that the flames were advancing toward the community.
Despite the emergency measures, some local residents have criticized the authorities, claiming the response was delayed and communication was severely lacking.
First Minister John Swinney convened a meeting of the Scottish government's resilience committee early on Saturday morning, confirming that additional police and fire service personnel were being sent to assist with the ongoing evacuation.
Swinney emphasized that it is 'essential people avoid the affected areas.' He noted that a shift in wind direction overnight had altered the fire's track once again, temporarily reducing the immediate threat to Nethy Bridge.
Ground crews and helicopter operations are currently focusing their efforts on the fire's active path while constructing new fire breaks, following the successful establishment of a fire break around the village overnight.
Superintendent Judy Hill of Police Scotland explained that the weather conditions experienced within the Cairngorms over the past 24 hours have introduced significant complexities to the firefighting operation. According to a statement from Police Scotland, access roads into Nethy Bridge have been closed, and evacuated residents are being directed to a dedicated respite centre established at the Macdonald Aviemore Hotel.
For some villagers, the evacuation orders came abruptly. Richard Eccles, who runs a local guest house with his wife Patricia, recounted that police officers arrived at their door at 22:00 on Friday night. The officers presented them with three choices: remain in their home, find alternative lodging with friends or family elsewhere, or relocate to the emergency accommodation at the Macdonald Aviemore Hotel.
The couple decided to stay for the time being, keeping their camper van packed and ready to depart at a moment's notice if the smoke worsens.
Eccles noted that a wedding scheduled to take place at nearby Castle Roy had to be cancelled due to the evacuation. He described the government's response as poor, arguing that a major incident should have been declared much sooner and that military assistance should have been requested before the fire spread. 'It's a bit like closing the stable door now that the horse has bolted,' Eccles remarked.
Another local resident, John McGlinchey, expressed disappointment that community members were left waiting until the flames were almost on their doorsteps before being asked to relocate at such short notice. McGlinchey highlighted the significant challenges of mobilizing the village's numerous elderly and disabled residents under such conditions.
He added that the last-minute nature of the evacuation call meant many people would face out-of-pocket expenses for temporary accommodation due to a lack of state contingency planning.
The handling of the crisis has also drawn political scrutiny. Andrew Bowie, the Conservative shadow secretary of state for Scotland and MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, stated that an increasing number of his constituents had contacted him with serious concerns. In a letter to Scottish government minister Gillian Martin, Bowie accused the SNP-led administration of failing to treat the wildfire with the seriousness and attention it deserved.
He specifically highlighted the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's (SFRS) lack of direct access to dedicated helicopter support, pointing out that the service must call in private firms with specialist equipment when such emergencies arise.
In response, the SFRS maintained that the Cairngorms wildfire has been appropriately resourced since it first began. More than 100 firefighters have been deployed to combat the blaze, which originally broke out last Wednesday near Ryvoan Bothy, located south of Nethy Bridge. At its peak, the fire consumed approximately six square kilometers (2.3 square miles) of heather and small trees.
Eleven fire engines, specialized wildlife units, and a command support unit remain active at the scene, alongside ongoing private helicopter water-bombing operations.
SFRS officials described the situation as dynamic and unpredictable, warning that shifting wind strengths and directions continue to trigger flare-ups, reignitions, and heavy smoke across a vast and difficult landscape.
The impact of the wildfire is being felt far beyond the immediate national park. A change in wind direction on Thursday night caused a major flare-up, sending a thick haze of smoke 59 miles away to Aberdeen. The SFRS had previously warned that residents and businesses in eastern Aviemore, parts of Aberdeenshire—including Inverurie, Banchory, and Kintore—and Aberdeen city might see or smell smoke throughout the weekend.
Members of the public in affected areas have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed to minimize exposure.
Supt Judy Hill said weather conditions "experienced within the Cairngorms over the last 24 hours have added further complexities to this situation".
He said they decided to stay unless the fire got considerably closer, adding: "We've got a camper van and we're all ready and set to go at a moment's notice. If it gets smoky, we'll go."
