Wildfire ‘tinderbox’ fears for Cairngorms
There is a“dangerous”volume of vegetative fuel to burn in parts of the Cairngorms National Park, the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) said this week.
The warning comes as the National Park Authority’s fire management consultation draws to a close.
The SGA described the National Park’s blueprint to tackle major blazes as overly dependent on a presumption gamekeepers and land managers will “bail them out” in the event of a blaze.
There is also concern about a potential blanket byelaw restriction on muirburn when fire danger warnings reach a certain level.
The National Park pointed out that consultation on the future of National Park fire management was still ongoing and that all responses will be examined before a recommendation made to the Park Authority board is made in June.
SGA chairman Alex Hogg said this week: “As far as can be understood, the Park’s wildfire plan seems to rest on the shoulders of the fire service, helped by gamekeepers and land managers.”
He pointed to “vast areas of unmanaged vegetation within the park” and “vegetative fuel loads arguably higher than anywhere else” adding: “It’s a tinderbox of the Park’s making.”
Mr Hogg continued: “Do Park leaders then simply expect volunteer gamekeepers, or anyone else, to risk their safety, in these extremes, to bail them out? The Park’s residents deserve better after 20 years.”
The Cairngorms National Park’s fire management consultation seeks views on issues such as visitor use of barbecues and flammables.
It also proposes a potential blanket byelaw restriction on muirburn during times of high risk which land managers say is not necessary.
A national park spokesperson said: “We are disappointed with the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association’s statement on the comprehensive consultation on the future of fire management in the National Park.
“The Park Authority has been seeking views on an open consultation and we’re delighted that over 1,500 people have responded so far.
“The Park Authority has not set out any preference and all the responses will be analysed before a recommendation is made to the Park Authority board in June.
“The Park Authority is also working on the Integrated Wildfire Management Plan for the Park and the SGA and many of their members have been involved in the development of this work over the past six months.
“We need to ensure that we have a robust approach to mitigating the risk and impact of any wildfires in the Cairngorms National Park to protect the environment, communities and economy.”