Does Scotland have the helicopters it needs to fight bushfires?

Netty Bridge Community Councilor Sandy McCook said: “The Scottish Government said they had learned their lesson after Davao Moore.

“Okay, sorry, but the lessons haven’t been learned.

The position they are taking is untenable because they have enough weapons. What is needed are helicopters.

Andrew Baxter, Lib Dem MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said the matter had been taken up by Scottish Justice Secretary Neil Grey.

Baxter said both the Scottish and UK governments should have “publicly available” firefighting aircraft during wildfires, rather than relying on private operators.

“Currently, it takes too long to get to the point where support is needed,” he says.

“If we don’t have a robust fire plan with aircraft that can be called up at short notice, we are at risk of serious loss of life.”

Neil Gray told the BBC that fire officials said they would have “all the resources needed” to control the Cairngorm blaze.

But he said he would discuss this with the SFRS if there were “questions and innovations” about the growing bushfire threat.

“I’m incredibly proud of the officers’ response,” he added.