Firefighters to return to wildfire for third day
Firefighters have withdrawn from the scene of a wildfire which has raged on for two days, and are due to return in the morning.
The blaze in Culbin Forest, near Forres in Moray, was reported to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) at 8.37am on Monday.
At the height of the incident, six fire appliances were at the scene – while specialist resources, including a helicopter dropping water on the affected area, were also involved.
SFRS said the affected area measures around 2,500 metres by 2,500 metres.
There are no reports of any injuries.
At 10pm on Tuesday, the service said firefighters had been withdrawn due to low-light conditions creating safety concerns, but would return in the morning, and that there are two appliances on scene to monitor the fire throughout the night.
SFRS vehicle. (SFRS/PA)
Police and the fire service have asked members of the public to avoid the area, and people who live nearby are advised to close windows and doors due to the smoke.
The fire broke out while an “extreme” risk of wildfire warning was in place across Scotland.
The SFRS warning came into force last Thursday and was in place until Monday.
An SFRS spokesperson said on Tuesday: “At its height, six fire appliances and specialist resources, including a helicopter which was dropping water on the affected area, were mobilised after the alarm was raised at 8.37am on Monday.
“As a precaution, the public is asked to avoid the area and those who live nearby are advised to close windows and doors due to the smoke in the vicinity.”
Elsewhere, firefighters were tackling a grass fire in Eastriggs in Dumfries and Galloway, but were also withdrawn and are due to be redeployed on Wednesday morning.
The alarm was raised at around 11am on Tuesday and three fire appliances went to the scene.
