The ongoing wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park, affecting the Glenmore and Abernethy areas of my constituency, has once again demonstrated just how vulnerable our rural communities are to extreme weather events.
First and foremost, I want to thank the firefighters, local volunteers, estate workers and everyone else who has been working around the clock in incredibly challenging conditions. Their professionalism, determination and willingness to step forward to protect our communities and our natural environment has been nothing short of remarkable.
Over the past few days I have been speaking directly with local councillors, land managers and others involved in the response. Their message has been clear: while progress has been made, this remains a serious and evolving incident that continues to demand constant attention.
That is why I was concerned to hear the Scottish Government describe the fire as being “contained” or “controlled”. Based on the information being shared with me from those on the ground, that simply did not reflect the reality they were facing. Firefighters and land managers were continuing to create new fire breaks and work hour by hour to prevent the fire spreading further.
In an emergency, public confidence depends upon clear, accurate and consistent information. I believe operational updates should come directly from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, ensuring there is one authoritative source of information for everyone affected.
Today I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Neil Gray, setting out these concerns. In my letter I have also asked him to convene an urgent briefing for Highlands and Islands MSPs so that we can receive accurate operational information and answer the growing number of questions from worried constituents and local businesses. Despite requesting a briefing from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, I have only been directed towards public press statements, which has made it difficult to obtain the detailed information that constituents quite reasonably expect their elected representatives to have during a major incident.
The wildfire has also highlighted another issue that has repeatedly been raised with me by those involved in managing these incidents: the mobilisation of specialist helicopter resources.
The Highlands contain vast areas of remote and difficult terrain where conventional firefighting appliances, and even specialist units, simply cannot reach. Time matters. Every hour lost can mean hundreds more hectares of land destroyed and greater risks to wildlife, forestry, businesses, communities and those fighting the fires themselves.
Both the Scottish and UK Governments should now examine whether dedicated firefighting aircraft should be available during periods of very high wildfire risk, rather than relying on sourcing helicopters from private operators after incidents have already escalated.
Climate change means these events are becoming more frequent across Scotland. We cannot continue to treat every major wildfire as an isolated event. We need to learn the lessons from each incident, improve coordination between agencies, review how specialist aerial assets are deployed and ensure those on the frontline have the resources they need.
I will continue pressing the Scottish Government for answers and for practical improvements that will better protect our rural communities in the future.