A major wildfire that broke out near Glenmore on 15 July in the Cairngorms national park has prompted an evacuation order to be lifted for residents of Nethy Bridge after emergency responders brought the threat under control. Police Scotland announced that properties could be safely reoccupied following concerted efforts by fire crews, gamekeepers, contractors and partner agencies over the preceding 24 hours.
At its height, the fire covered approximately 6 square kilometers of heather and small trees, with smoke visible as far away as Aberdeen, roughly 60 miles from the origin point. The conflagration forced the evacuation of homes and campsites in the remote region, with residents of Nethy Bridge temporarily relocated to a dedicated respite center at the Macdonald Aviemore hotel while access roads remained closed due to fire risk.
Scotland’s first minister John Swinney praised the response efforts while noting that challenging and changeable weather conditions had complicated containment operations. Officials announced that more than 500 firefighters, alongside specialist equipment including all-terrain vehicles and helicopter water-bombing operations, had been mobilized to combat the blaze. The Scottish government had requested military assistance from the UK government to support the ongoing response.
While the immediate evacuation threat has subsided, authorities stressed their commitment to continue treating the wildfire with utmost seriousness and necessary resources until complete suppression is achieved. Officials emphasized that emergency responders would persist in working across the challenging landscape in coordination with Forestry and Land Scotland, the Cairngorms national park authority, landowners and other stakeholders. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service had been focusing resources on creating firebreaks to contain spread, though residents noted the fire remained substantial and far from fully contained.
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