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Rise in deliberate fires in Badenoch and Strathspey since end of first lockdown





Firefighters from Kingussie tackle a camp fire left burning at Loch Morlich.
Firefighters from Kingussie tackle a camp fire left burning at Loch Morlich.

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a rise in deliberate fires but fewer call-outs to road accidents in the strath, the Scottish and Fire Rescue Service (SFRS) has revealed.

Deliberate fires attended by firefighters include those started by dirty campers at Glenmore were there is a ban, and wildfires.

SFRS Local Senior Officer for Highland Roddy Chapman noted the rise in the problem since the end of the first lockdown in his report to Highland Council’s latest Badenoch and Strathspey area committee.

He stated: “One of the consequences of Covid lockdown restrictions has been an increased level of deliberate fires in Badenoch and Strathspey.”

However, there has been a significant improvement in the situation this summer compared to last.

Highland LSO Area Group Commander Ross Nixon told the committee: “Since the beginning of May, Aviemore and Kingussie units have attended Glenmore six times for reports of campfires.

“This has been a massive reduction from the previous year despite the number of visitors to the area remaining high.”

He said firefighters had also attended Loch Morlich with Forestry and Land Scotland staff and Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) rangers to educate visitors on the new no campfire and no barbecue rules in the Glenmore area.

Mr Nixon said: “This engagement has been well-received by the public and combined with new signage at the Cairngorm Sleddog Centre and the presence of FLS and CNPA rangers seems to have heavily contributed to this reduction.”

Two people so far have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal’s office in connection with starting campfires in the Glenmore area.

The Covid-19 pandemic does appear to have led to a fall in road accidents in the area. Mr Chapman stated: “Road traffic collisions are very low and the reduction in all incidents of this type continues to be encouraging.

“SFRS is conscious of how Covid restrictions on hospitality and tourism may have contributed to reduced incidents on the roads due to significantly lower visitor numbers.”

The SFRS is currently consulting with the public on a new policy which could end routine responses to call-outs by automated fire alarms.

Mr Chapman said that the issue locally was not as bad as some other places.

He said: “False alarm incidents show a slight upturn on the previous year but still remain low.

“Again, there is a recognition of the reduced activity within hospitality which is accountable for a significant number of actuations in previous reporting years.”
He said fire crews were carrying out preventative work and engaging with premises to cut the figure furthermore.

He added: “Where improvement cannot be demonstrated, SFRS enforcement teams
will liaise with premises holders to improve
building management and reduce unwanted fire alarms.”

Latest figures reveal an average of 89 per cent for call-outs for Aviemore compared to 99 per cent for the first appliance in Grantown and 98 per cent in Kingussie. The figure for the second fire engine in the Strathspey capital is 59 per cent.


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