Highland fire crews 'burnt out' after battling record high of deliberate blazes

Burnt-out firefighters are having to tackle the highest amount of deliberately set fires in the last four years.

A “distinct sense of burnout” was how Councillor Morven-May MacCallum described the atmosphere following her visit to Fortrose Fire Station at the community and place meeting on Thursday.

The comments were made during the council’s discussion of the scrutiny report compiled by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for the first two quarters of 2025/26.

It revealed that there were 179 deliberate fires set across the Highlands this year so far — a 40 per cent increase from last year and the highest number in four years.

In response to the figures in a statement given out with the meeting, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) area commander Lynne Gow said: “We’ve seen an increase in deliberate fires across the Highlands, and a number of these are linked to outdoor and wildfire activity, particularly during periods of dry weather earlier this year.

“These incidents are mainly caused by human activity such as campfires, discarded cigarettes and barbecues, which, combined with dry conditions and peat soil, can spread rapidly. While some fires are started deliberately, others can quickly get out of control.

“We’re working closely with Police Scotland, the council and community partners to target hotspots, engage with young people, and raise awareness about the dangers of deliberate fire-setting and careless outdoor burning.”

The area with the highest number of deliberate fires was Badenoch and Strathspey with 25, followed by Inverness Central at 19, and Wick and East Caithness at 16.

Wooded and grassland areas were targeted the most with 133 deliberate fires set, but 11 homes were also set alight.

Her response continued: “Badenoch and Strathspey has seen a higher number of these incidents, which may reflect its open landscape and visitor activity, and we’ve already increased prevention work and local engagement in that area.

“Deliberate and careless outdoor fires put lives, property, and the environment at risk, and they divert our crews from real emergencies. We’d urge everyone to act responsibly and help us keep the Highlands safe.”

In the meeting, Councillor Mathew Reiss (Thurso and Northwest Caithness, Highland Independent) added that firefighters in Thurso are often sent 40 miles away to cover Tongue as the station has no availability due to a lack of staff.

Area Commander Lynne Gow was present at the meeting and highlighted the struggle to recruit staff in rural areas due to small and often ageing populations, acknowledging the strain that this must put on existing staff.