Mile-wide inferno blazes across moor
A RAGING wildfire a mile wide lit up the Highland sky yesterday, destroying grassland while much of the rest of the country endured downpours.
Firefighters worked through the night to control the blaze, which covered an area of around 600 acres and created plumes of thick black smoke that could be seen for miles.
The fire broke out on a moor between Torbreck and Essich, five miles south of Inverness, at around 5.10pm on Sunday.
Winds fanned the flames but Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews managed to get the inferno under control by yesterday afternoon. It is the third wildfire in the area in as many weeks.
John MacDonald, SFRS senior officer for the Highland area, said: ‘I’d like to praise the commitment and determination of our crews when faced with this significant wildfire as they worked tirelessly under arduous conditions.
‘We are also extremely grateful to our retained crews who quickly responded and supported firefighting operations which have continued through the night.’
The wildfire came amid a period of about two weeks of dry weather in the Highlands.
Mr MacDonald said: ‘We want people to enjoy the warmer weather but to do so safely and responsibly to avoid the risk of wildfires.’
Although the Highlands were dry, heavy rain fell elsewhere, with 32mm at Threave, near Dumfries, and 16mm in Glasgow. Met Office forecaster Fraser Ralston said: ‘Wednesday should be a drier day but again on Thursday and Friday, there will be some heavy showers.’