Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Crews attend wildfires
Wildfires occurred in Plains and Salsburgh last week as summer temperatures soared.
Fire engines rushed to Stepends Road in Plains to attend to a grass fire on Monday afternoon; while four crews tackled a“large grass and heathland fire”at Duntilland Road 24 hours later.
Various crews remained in place at the Salsburgh scene for four days, with the blaze and subsequent“flare-ups” finally being extinguished on Friday.
No casualties were reported as a result of either blaze.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has had a wildfire warning in place for over a week, extending it last Wednesday to cover the period up to and including today due to continuing “dry and breezy weather”.
Glen McCourtney captured these images of the smoking scenes in Monklands from his home in Caldercruix, saying:“It could be seen for miles.”
He told the Advertiser:“It was quite a big fire, with smoke coming over the hill and all the marshland on fire.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said:“The service was alerted to reports of a grass fire near Plains.
“Operations Control mobilised three fire engines to the scene at Stepends Road, where crews extinguished the flames; firefighters returned to the scene at 7.20am the following day to ensure the area remained safe.”
He said of the Salsburgh incident: “SFRS was alerted at 3.29pm last Tuesday to reports of a large grass and heathland fire near Salsburgh.
“Four fire engines were mobilised to Duntilland Road, where crews worked to bring the fire under control.
“Two engines returned to the scene at 9am the following day, and a single fire engine will remain at the scene until the area is made safe.”
SRFS said that four crews were sent again to the scene on Thursday morning, after an inspection showed further fire flare-ups at the scene, and added:“Crews left after extinguishing the fire on Friday at 8.36pm.”
Extending the wildfire warning, area manager Bruce Farquharson said:“As the warm and dry weather continues, so too does the risk of wildfire.
“We have seen in recent weeks just how large these fires can become; livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated, as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities.
“It’s crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and follow the countryside code.
“We’re appealing to people to take great care – just one heat source like a campfire ember can cause it to ignite, and if the wind changes direction even the smallest fire can spread uncontrollably.”