Land Managers and Businesses Mobilise Major Support Response to Cairngorms Wildfire

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has praised the exceptional response from its members and the wider rural sector after dozens of land managers, gamekeepers, contractors and rural businesses answered an urgent call for assistance in relation to the Strathnethy wildfire.

The response came within hours of SLE issuing a direct appeal from Firebreak Services Ltd to members on Friday afternoon, resulting in a substantial register of personnel, specialist vehicles, heavy plant, firefighting equipment and logistical support being made available to emergency services should it be required.

The mobilisation follows Police Scotland's declaration of a major incident after deteriorating weather conditions and strengthening winds increased the risk posed by the wildfire and led to the precautionary evacuation of residents from Nethy Bridge. More than 500 firefighters have been involved in the response alongside specialist wildfire resources, helicopters and partner agencies. Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have both highlighted the important contribution of landowners, estate gamekeepers and land managers in supporting operations.

The response, coordinated through Firebreak Services Ltd and Scottish Land & Estates, identified a formidable range of assets, including bulldozers, excavators, tracked diggers, harvesters, Argos, Can-Ams, Argocats, ATVs, 4x4 vehicles, trailers, fogging units, pumps, chainsaws and trained operators capable of supporting wildfire suppression and containment efforts.

Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland and Strategic Projects at Scottish Land & Estates, said: "The response from our members and other businesses has been extraordinary. Within a matter of hours of the appeal being issued, estates, farms, contractors, rural businesses and organisations from across Scotland had registered a significant range of equipment, machinery and experienced personnel ready to assist if required.

"The scale of the response demonstrates both the resilience of rural Scotland and the willingness of land managers to support emergency services and local communities during major incidents."

SLE stressed that the purpose of the register was to ensure that additional capability could be rapidly deployed if requested by operational commanders.

Mr Ewing added: "Importantly, emergency services and partner agencies have advised us that they have substantial resources on the ground and continue to lead the operational response. The register we have compiled is intended to provide additional resilience and surge capacity should further assistance be requested.

"Those individuals and organisations who have come forward should not self-deploy. If their support is required, they will be contacted directly through the appropriate channels."

The organisation said the wildfire has once again demonstrated the value of local knowledge and specialist rural assets during landscape-scale emergencies.

Gamekeepers, estate staff and land managers possess detailed knowledge of remote terrain, access routes, water sources and fire behaviour across some of Scotland's most challenging landscapes. Combined with specialist off-road vehicles and heavy plant machinery, these capabilities can provide a critical supplement to emergency service operations.

SLE also reiterated its long-standing call for greater investment in Scotland's wildfire preparedness, including the development of dedicated aerial firefighting capability.

Mr Ewing added: "This incident serves as another reminder that wildfire is no longer a seasonal or isolated risk. Scotland is experiencing larger, more complex and longer-duration wildfire events, often in difficult terrain and under increasingly challenging weather conditions.

"While the response from firefighters and partner agencies has been exceptional, we believe this event reinforces the case for examining how Scotland can strengthen its long-term wildfire resilience, including access to dedicated aerial firefighting resources and enabling land managers to manage fuels in the landscape.”

SLE thanked the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, helicopter crews, local authorities and all partner organisations involved in the response.

The organisation also expressed its support for residents affected by the evacuation of Nethy Bridge and for the communities, businesses and visitors impacted by the ongoing incident.

Mr Ewing concluded: "Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this wildfire, particularly those who have had to leave their homes as a precaution.

"We will continue to work closely with partner organisations and stand ready to assist should additional resources be required. The response has shown exactly what can be achieved when rural communities, land managers and emergency services work together."