Highland wildfire responders win praise in parliament after MSP Kate Forbes lodges motion of thanks
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FIREFIGHTERS and gamekeepers who worked tirelessly to tackle a massive wildfire near Cannich and Corrimony have been praised in parliament by a Highland MSP.
Kate Forbes, who represents Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliment yesterday to "commend the actions of everybody involved in fighting the Cannich fire, especially the firefighters and gamekeepers".
The blaze, which broke out more than two weeks ago, devastated dozens of square kilometres of moorland and forest, and destroyed half of the RSPB's Corrimony nature reserve.
At its peak it was so big, smoke from the blaze could even be seen in satellite images from space.
The RSPB has since launched an emergency appeal to raise the hundreds of thousands of pounds that will be necessary for it to begin the years-long recovery and restoration efforts.
Announcing her motion, she said: "I have today lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament to commend the actions of everybody involved in fighting the Cannich fire, especially the firefighters and gamekeepers.
"It highlights the truly heroic actions of certain individuals (who will no doubt be embarrassed by the public gratitude), firefighters and gamekeepers do a great public service, for which we are incredibly grateful. All MSPs can show support for this motion."
Her motion reads: "That the Parliament recognises the reported actions of all those involved in tackling the recent wildfire incident at Cannich, including the firefighters and gamekeepers, who worked tirelessly over several day; understands from reports that the fire is suspected to have been started by wild campers and that it subsequently engulfed land managed by Forestry and Land Scotland, as well as around half of the RSPB's Corrimony nature reserve; further understands that Jimmy Gibb, of Balmacaan, was instrumental in mobilising gamekeepers with all-terrain vehicles, logging units and leaf blowers to the scene; commends the reported actions of Iain Hepburn at Dunmaglass, a muirburn training instructor with Bright Spark Burning Techniques, for his use of "back-burning" to protect a recently construct boat house from devastation; praises the skill of the helicopter pilots, for their efforts in tactically suppressing the wildfire with precision water drops; understands that David Thomas travelled from Glencoe to assist over several days and believes that the gamekeepers and specialist equipment provided by Dunmaglass Estate and Glenmoriston Estate were instrumental in the containment effort using "back burning".
