Police declare ‘major incident’ as wind change increases Cairngorms wildfire risk

A Police Scotland statement said Nethy Bridge residents were being directed to a dedicated respite centre at the Macdonald Aviemore Hotel and access roads into Nethy Bridge had been closed.

Local resident John McGlinchey said he felt disappointed that residents were “having to wait until the flames are almost on our doorstep and having to relocate at such notice”.

He said there is a major concern for mobilising the many elderly people in the village and those with disabilities.

With the “last-minute” evacuation call, a lot of people will also have to go out of pocket for accommodation because of a lack of contingency plans from the government, he added.

MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Andrew Bowie, who is the Conservative shadow secretary of state for Scotland, said “increasing numbers of constituents” had been getting in touch to express concern.

In a letter, external to Scottish government minister Gillian Martin he claimed the SNP-led administration had “failed to treat the situation with the seriousness and attention that it deserves”.

He singled out the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) lack of direct access to helicopter support. Currently it calls in private companies with helicopters and specialist equipment when needed.

First Minister John Swinney said the government’s resilience room was “focussed on creating a fire break and additional police resources are being deployed to assist with the evacuation, including identifying vulnerable residents who may need extra support”.

“I am extremely grateful to all the first responders who have been working hard to control this fire since it was first reported last Wednesday,” he added.

The SFRS has said the Cairngorms wildfire has been “appropriately resourced” from the start.