Firefighters faced a wildfire at Kyle of Lochalsh that first began on Wednesday morning and stayed ablaze for 24 hours. The fire crews attending stayed overnight to fight the blaze and even had to set up in the backyard of local homeowners to deter the fire from their properties.
Several fire crews from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) were called to the blaze on Wednesday morning which was believed to have begun in a patch of heather.
Firefighters continued to extinguish the blaze overnight as it spread from Erbusaig to Kyle of Lochalsh. The scale of the fire can be seen in pictures individuals have uploaded to social media and the cloud of smoke left over the area.
On Thursday the fire was largely extinguished with the help of a helicopter water bombing the blaze.
This wildfire at Kyle of Lochalsh comes after a warning from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) about the increased risk of wildfires across Scotland during the warm weather and dry heat.
In a statement to STV News, SFRS Group Commander Niall MacLennon said, “Numerous wildfires across Scotland this week, including large fires on Ben Lomond and near Mallaig have shown how real the danger of fire is in the countryside and how damaging it can be to the environment, wildlife and nearby communities.”
With rising temperatures this weekend and further dry conditions into next week, wildfires could burn and spread with very high intensity in high-risk areas.
The wildfire at Kyle of Lochalsh is only one in a series of fires that have occurred in Scotland over the past few months, and with the dry weather continuing the country remains at risk of more.
Wildfires are becoming more prevalent due to the changing climate and drier weather, making it easier for dry vegetation and fields to catch fire when exposed to a flame.
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