Fire chiefs look to the sky in efforts to tackle wildfires

● SFRS seek access to fire bombing helicopters as fires increase by 750%

The number of hours spent tackling wildfires in Scotland has rocketed by almost eight times in the past decade.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) say they need extra cash for helicopters to water bomb the blazes.

They blame climate change and a lack of fire breaks that can halt the spread of a fire.

Official new data reveals an astonishing 750 per cent increase in the time spent battling wildfires in the past decade – up from 626 hours in 2009/10 – to 5,332 hours last year. Helicopters were drafted in to assist in two huge wildfires in the north of Scotland earlier this year and fire chiefs are now demanding such support is more readily available.

Senior firefighters are seeking talks with the Scottish Government to try to strike a new deal on access to helicopters so areas can be more quickly water bombed.

The service relies on the insurance of landowners to pay for helicopters, but now wants to discuss options for a “smarter” solution given the increased frequency of such blazes. SFRS area manager Bruce Farquharson said: “They are getting more common. They definitely are going up. There are a number of reasons. Some of it is climate change. In fact, I would say a lot of it is climate change.

“We’re getting colder, drier winters and warmer springs. So all that contributes to the ideal conditions for wildfires in spring.”

According to the figures, wildfires in the Highland Council area alone took up 1,892 hours last year – by far the highest in Scotland and up from 971 in 2017/18 and 308 hours in 2016/17.

Moray was the next highest in nation, with 731 hours spent tackling wildfires last year – more than the combined total in the area for the preceding nine years.

West Lothian had the third most time-consuming wildfires, at 392 hours. This was followed by 380 in Fife, 307 in Aberdeen City, 275 in Edinburgh and 233 in Aberdeenshire.

And this year is shaping up to be even worse, with just two fires near Forres and by Thurso already estimated to have equalled the total area burnt by wildfires in the entire UK last year.

The actual number of wildfires has also more than doubled,from 94 in 2009/10 to 194 last year.