02-07-2025
Probe into Highland and Moray wildfires that burned for days
A joint police and fire service investigation has been launched into the causes of large wildfires that burned over four days in the north of fires on moors and woodland were first reported to Police Scotland at about 16:05 on of firefighters tackled the blazes, supported by volunteers and waterbombing by a helicopter. Police Scotland said incidents near Carrbridge, Grantown-on-Spey and Dava in the Highlands, and Upper Knockando were being investigated.
Ch Insp Mike MacKenzie said: "Fortunately no-one has been injured but a large swathe of the countryside has been badly affected."I would like to thank all the emergency services and the public involved."Our inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and this includes the area around Lochindorb between Carrbridge and Dava and the area around Loch Allan near Dava."He added: "We are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious or has any information that could assist with the investigation to get in touch."
One witness, who tried to put a fire out near Grantown-on-Spey in the Cairngorms National Park on Saturday, told BBC Scotland News it started south-east of Loch said the seat of the wildfire was a ring of stones where a camp fire had been lit and camping chairs had been Cairngorms National Park Authority has urged people not to light campfires and executive Grant Moir said: "The effects of these fires on our wildlife and land is devastating, and we will be working with partners and landowners to assess the damage and see how we can help the recovery."
On Tuesday the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said that there was a "significant deployment of resources" to the affected from Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Highlands were local roads were closed as a living in Carrbridge, Grantown-on-Spey and Aviemore were advised to keep the windows of homes and businesses closed due to living 170 miles (273km) miles away in Orkney reported smelling smoke from the wildfires.
