SLE strongly welcomes dedicated helicopter support for wildfire response

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has firmly welcomed the announcement that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will be able to place helicopters on standby and mobilise them immediately when Scotland’s wildfire risk is assessed as high, very high or extreme risk.

The announcement was made by the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Neil Gray MSP, in parliament today. It follows the publication of a report by SLE which called for guaranteed helicopter availability during times of very high or extreme wildfire risk. 

Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland and Strategic Projects at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “This is a significant and practical step from the Scottish Government which we strongly welcome.

“Recent wildfires have demonstrated the immense speed with which fires can spread across Scotland’s rural landscape. Giving the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service the ability to place helicopters on standby and deploy them immediately will strengthen its response, help protect firefighters and land managers on the ground, and provide a better opportunity to contain fires before they cause widespread devastation."

Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, and who sits on the Scottish Government’s Strategic Oversight Group for wildfire, said: “Scottish Land & Estates and its members have consistently called for greater aerial firefighting capacity and availability during time of increased wildfire risk - including in our report published this week documentating the scale of the private sector response. We are pleased that the Cabinet Secretary has listened and acted. Although this arrangement is currently intended to cover the remainder of the wildfire season, it provides a strong foundation on which a permanent and properly resourced national capability should now be built.

“Helicopters are not a complete solution, as the Cabinet Secretary has acknowledged. They are best used in conjuction with a comprehensive, integrated ground response, and Scotland must also invest in prevention, preparedness, local wildfire plans, specialist training and equipment, and responsible vegetation and fuel-load management.

“Land managers will continue to work closely with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, government and rural communities. This announcement is an important and very welcome recognition that wildfires are now a national resilience issue requiring decisive action and sustained investment.”

Image credit: Peter Jolly, Northpix