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MSP’s gratitude to the Strathspey wildfire battlers





'Praying for rain is not a fire-fighting technique' said one keeper who had joined the fight and rejoiced at last nights' rain. Picture Daniel Forsyth.
'Praying for rain is not a fire-fighting technique' said one keeper who had joined the fight and rejoiced at last nights' rain. Picture Daniel Forsyth.

“A massive thanks is due to all who worked tirelessly over three days to put out the wild fires in Nairn, Dava and Lochindorb - including the fire and rescue service, police land managers and keepers.”

That was the message to the Strathy this morning from local constituency MSP Fergus Ewing.

“This is said to be possibly the worst wild fire ever.

“It covered a vast area.

“It took three days to put out and at the end was aided by the rain.

“But as one keeper put it to me, ‘Praying for rain is not a fire fighting technique’.”

The MSP added: “Keepers and land managers and farmers from all over the country came to help. It was a tremendous effort.

“I think thanks are in particular due to the keepers in Scotland, who of course are the people who know the moors better then anyone else and know how to extinguish fires.

'We would be lost without them all' says Fergus Ewing of the army of wildfire battlers.
'We would be lost without them all' says Fergus Ewing of the army of wildfire battlers.

“I would thank in particular Calum Kippen, Paul Wilson Graham Dunlop Kevin Begg Willie Smith Les Mallinson and Peter Mckimmie . A large number of others worked ceaselessly to prevent the fire from being even worse.

I also want to praise the land owners and farmers and their representative bodies for their huge efforts, as well as those taking part in the multi agency meetings held in Grantown on Spey.

The MSP continued; But the Scottish Government were posted missing. There were no helicopters available on Sunday at the crucial time in tackling the fire. They refused to activate the Scottish Government Resilience Room, the procedure used to coordinate activity in an emergency. Why not? They did convene it on 6th April this year for a serious fire in Galloway, but one which was far less extensive than the one here.

Why are there no helicopters available 24 /7 to get to the fires scene immediately. This could prevent thousands of acres of land being utterly destroyed, not to mention forestry and threats to livestock.

Second, the new restrictive laws on muirburn will make it much more difficult to carry out this activity which is vital for reducing fire load. Without muirburn the countryside is one gigantic tinder box.

Finally, many putting out the fire asked where Nature Scot (NS) were. Why were they not involved, since they control what happens in the countryside. Of NS = there was No Sign.

Lessons must be learned, and the verdict that has already been passed by many locals is that the Scottish Government were, at its kindest , caught flat footed.

“I have today written to the Chief Fire Officer and Chief Constable to express thanks for the work of their firefighters and Police officers.

“I hope that the Scottish `Government will do likewise and in particular take time to thank the keepers for their unstinting work.

“Without them, we would not be able to tackle these fires.”


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