Nethy Bridge: Residents allowed to return from Cairngorms wildfires

Residents of the village of Netty Bridge, near the Cairngorm wildfire, were told they could return to their homes after being evacuated on Friday night.

The fire has been declared a major incident due to climate change, but is now under control by Police Scotland.

First Minister John Sweeney said the government and emergency services would continue to treat the fire at a high level until the last of the fire was out.

Local residents criticized the handling of the wildfire.It has been burning for 10 days, the move to call it a major incident is too late and the government has been slow to step up its response.

Police Scotland said in a statement on Saturday night: “Following a wide multi-agency response to a large fire in the Cairngorms National Park, residents of Netty Bridge have now been advised to return to their properties.”

Kenny Barbour, deputy assistant chief constable of Police Scotland, said the decision to abandon the main incident followed a detailed review of emergency responders.

In a statement, he added: “Extensive work carried out in recent days, including the creation of effective fire protection systems, has significantly reduced the risk to nearby communities and allowed displaced residents to return home safely.”

Supt Judy Hill added: “The ongoing multi-agency response, with significant partnership resources and volunteers working tirelessly and in challenging conditions to support our efforts to put out the fire, is a matter of great concern.”

Firefighters will continue to maintain a significant operational presence until the event is safely completed, police said on Saturday, 75 of them will be on the ground.

At a meeting of the Scottish Government’s recovery unit on Saturday evening, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said there had been “good progress” in strengthening fire breaks to protect residential areas and that the number of fires was falling.

First Minister John Swinney welcomed the lifting of the evacuation notice but said: “The Scottish Government, emergency services and all relevant authorities will continue to treat this wildfire, as it has started, with the utmost care and resources until the last fire is out.”