Review urged of Scotland’s fire service after ‘devastating’ Cairngorms blaze

A Scottish Government plan for dealing with wildfires “fell grossly short of what was needed” when a major blaze ripped through the Cairngorms countryside, a local MSP has claimed

Andrew Baxter, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said this summer’s blaze had “exposed the devastating consequences of being underprepared for the new climate threat facing Scotland’s rural communities”.

He spoke as the Liberal Democrat conference in Edinburgh backed a motion calling for communities and those involved in tackling the fire to be part of a cross-party summit to ensure that “communities are not let down again”.

The motion also called for a “thorough examination” of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, looking at its capacity and resources to ensure that firefighters can “manage major incidents without being stretched beyond what is reasonable”.

Mr Baxter said such a review was needed because “we need honest answers about equipment, staffing and resilience”.

However, a call for the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government to consider whether the current temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues should be made permanent, was narrowly defeated by Lib Dem members.

The debate came after more than 500 firefighters were involved in tackling a major wildfire in the Cairngorms this summer, which burned across 10 square miles of moorland and forestry.

The blaze started in the Glenmore area near Aviemore on July 15, with fire crews finally leaving the scene more than a month later on August 18.

That came after the Scottish Government published a wildfire action plan in March – but Mr Baxter said: “The SNP government’s action plan on wildfires, and their subsequent response, fell grossly short of what was needed.”

The MSP added: “We need to be clear: it is not a case of if the next fire strikes, it is a case of when.

“Our plans would ensure that whenever that is, the government can show the leadership it sorely lacked in the summer.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for the Highlands and Islands region Morven-May MacCallum said: “The Scottish Government’s current approach to wildfires is not fit for purpose.

“That approach left communities across the Cairngorms extremely vulnerable. Residents were forced to flee their homes. What should have been a thriving summer season became a nightmare for local businesses.

“With Scotland experiencing hotter and drier summers, we need a government that is far more proactive, far more prepared.

“The proposals we are setting out would bring together ministers, fire teams, local authorities, land managers and more so that communities are not let down again.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross David Green stressed that the “government needs to learn the lessons from this summer”.

He added: “There have been enough warnings – now is the time to support our overstretched fire fighters, emergency services and estate and rural workers with action.”

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.