Parts of Badenoch and Strathspey face very high wildfire risk, warns Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
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A VERY high wildfire risk warning has been issued for parts of the Highlands.
The alert which runs from April 24 to 26, covers parts of the Cairngorms, Inverness-shire, Ross-shire, Sutherland and Caithness. And the warning will rise to extreme in some spots on April 26.
It comes amid a continued dry and sunny spell across much of the region, and just one day after fire crews were called to battle a gorse blaze near Fort George.
Outwith the Highlands, huge swathes of southern and central Scotland are also covered by the alert.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s local senior officer, Bruce Farquharson, said: "We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame.
"Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage.
"Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires - as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities.
"These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
"Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments, and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code."
