Perilous
Times and Climate Change
Scotland: Raging Wildfires tear through key Highland forest
projects
DAVID ROSS HIGHLAND CORRESPONDENT
3 May 2011
Herald Scotland
WILDFIRES have devastated major forest regeneration projects in
the Highlands despite helicopters being brought in to drop water
bombs on the blazes.
The National Trust for Scotland said two of its key properties had
been badly affected by the fires that started at the weekend,
dealing a major blow to the restoration of the Caledonian pine
forest.
There were heath fires at Glen Shiel and at Dundonnell in Wester
Ross, but worst affected were the estates of Torridon and of
Kintail and Morvich.
Six walkers and a dog were airlifted off a ridge in Torridon, away
from smoke and flames but no injuries were reported
Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service said approximately
62 engines and 310 personnel had responded to 74 incidents – 29
involving heath, moor and forest fires – between Friday and midday
yesterday.
Despite the best efforts of the crews on the ground, once the
fires reached the trees flames rose as high as 40ft
Meanwhile, firefighters were battling a blaze that broke out on
the Queen’s Balmoral Estate yesterday. The fire started on a hill
near Loch Muick and was still raging more than five hours after
the alarm was raised.
A helicopter was scrambled to the scene and was being used to dump
water on the flames as 15 firefighters tried to tackle the inferno
from the ground.
Grampian Fire and Rescue were called to the scene at 2.30pm and
the hillside was still burning at 8pm. No properties were thought
to be under threat. Gary Marsden, factor at Balmoral, said the
stately home and castle were not under threat.
The Torridon Estate was transferred to the trust in 1967 and takes
in the peaks of Liathach (3456ft) and Beinn Alligin (3230ft).
The 18,362-acre Kintail and Morvich Estate was purchased by the
trust in 1944 and includes the Falls of Glomach and the Five
Sisters of Kintail. At several points the fires threatened
Inveralligin forestry scheme and Torridon village, as well as
Torridon House and nearby woodlands.
In Kintail, firefighters had to work hard to protect Invershiel,
but late on Sunday night the flames reached one of the trust’s
forest regeneration plantations above Kintail Village
The project to regenerate the native pinewoods is one of the
largest environmental enterprises in Scotland. A plan to join up
existing patches of ancient woodland to re-establish the
Caledonian pine forest is one of the trust’s key objectives.
This entails the trust working to ensure ancient forest remnants
are augmented by new growth, and to develop footpaths that thread
through the forest, linking the Moray Firth in the east to Kintail
in the west.
The conservation charity’s director of property and visitor
services, Pete Selman, said: “Despite the best efforts of the
crews on the ground, once the fires reached the trees, the flames
leapt as high as 40 feet.
“At one point it looked as if the plantation might have been
saved, but the fires flared up again and, as it was getting dark,
the teams had to come off the hill for their own safety. The loss
of the mature trees is heartbreaking to all those involved in
forest regeneration in the area over many years.
“The main thing is that no-one was hurt. We will look at our
options once the immediate priorities are dealt with and our aim
will be to begin re-establishment of the affected area of forest.”
“These events are a salutary reminder of why we ask all visitors
to our countryside properties to take extra care and apply common
sense and not light fires or barbecues in close proximity to dry
heather, grass and scrubland.”
Elsewhere, a fire affecting a large area of scrub and gorse at
Glengyle at the northern end of Loch Katrine in the Trossachs was
out by yesterday afternoon.