‘It’s not over yet’ say Strathspey and Moray gamekeepers and managers
The devastating wildfires in Speyside and Morayshire must act as a wake-up call for the Scottish Government to urgently prioritise investment in wildfire prevention and response, Scottish Land & Estates said today.
Following several days of intense firefighting, aided by rainfall overnight, the immediate situation on the ground has improved. However, gamekeepers and land managers remain concerned about persistent smouldering, particularly in areas of deep peat, and will continue to monitor the situation closely in the days ahead.
SLE has welcomed direct engagement in the past 24 hours with Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie MSP, as well as local MSPs, Fergus Ewing and Douglas Ross, but said the incident has laid bare critical gaps in Scotland’s preparedness for tackling wildfires.
SLE is calling on Ministers to take direct action, including:
Improved resourcing of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) with all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), fogging units and water bowsers to ensure frontline crews are properly equipped.
Expanded training for firefighters in techniques such as backburning and firebreak creation. While some training has begun, there is a need to roll this out more widely and urgently.
A review of aerial firefighting capability, with serious consideration given to the establishment of a dedicated SFRS aerial command to enable quicker mobilisation of helicopters and improve containment efforts.
Government funding for wildfire danger rating assessments, which are essential for understanding risk and preventing similar events in the future.
Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service played a vital role in this incident, particularly in command, control and coordination, but the reality is that the majority of the hands-on firefighting was undertaken by gamekeepers – using their own equipment, experience and local knowledge.
“Without that rapid response from the land management community, the situation could have been far worse – and concerns remain that flareups could yet occur. Their efforts were exceptional, but we cannot rely on goodwill and geography to deliver a credible wildfire response.
“In this case, private investment by landowners in their employees and specialist equipment averted a catastrophe.
“Ministers must recognise this when future spending decisions are made.
“Real weaknesses in our national resilience to wildfire have been laid bare in this incident. It took until Monday for helicopters to be deployed, despite requests being made over the weekend. That simply isn’t good enough in a situation where every hour counts.
“We also know that SFRS teams do not yet have universal access to the equipment and training needed to respond effectively to these fast-moving incidents. Firefighters across Scotland should receive regular training in the use of fire to backburn and create firebreaks.
“The government must act now for the long-term - we need leadership, investment and a proper strategy.
“Wildfire risk in Scotland is growing – this is a climate crisis issue as well as a public safety one and Ministers must treat it as an urgent priority.”
