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Families forced to flee homes as wildfires ravaging Scotland visible from SPACE
The Scottish Government held an emergency response meeting as massive blazes spread through the country
FAMILIES have been forced to flee their homes with wildfires ravaging parts of Scotland visible from space.
People in Galloway and East Ayrshire have had to evacuate their properties as the inferno rages, with the flames lapping at their doors.
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The mandatory evacuations have sparked fears homes will be burned to the ground as the dry spring tinderbox conditions continue across parts of Scotland.
Retired Royal Navy marine engineer Ron Baird, from Whithorn, in Dumfries and Galloway, posted a dramatic account of a family rescue on his local Whithorn History Group Facebook page.
Ron, 76, said:”My brother Eric was staying overnight at Glenhead with his wife and wee dog when they were woken up by police banging on their door in the middle of the night.
“He was not aware the flames were blazing right next to his property, with fire crews trying to batter them down.
“So far, it’s not touched any of the buildings but the place was covered in smoke. It sounds as if they had a lucky escape.”
The Scottish Government held an emergency meeting in response to the wildfires.
It was confirmed The Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGORR) has been activated in response to a wildfire in the area of Galloway Forest Park.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance chaired the meeting while First Minister John Swinney remained in the US for Tartan Week celebrations.
Ms Constance said: “I am extremely grateful to all the first responders who have been working hard to control this fire since it was first reported on Thursday. Thanks to their efforts, significant progress has been made and the situation is currently under control.
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“I am reassured to hear that so far there has been no damage to properties or mature woodland. However, this remains an on-going incident and the situation will be re-assessed at first light.
“Earlier this week the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service issued an extreme wildfire warning due to the dry conditions across much of Scotland.
"As we continue to see a period of warm and dry weather, it’s essential that all of us act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors so we can keep the number of wildfires at an absolute minimum.”
Helicopters from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are continuously water bombing the area.
The fire, which started in Newton Stewart, has spread rapidly and police revealed it had reached East Ayrshire and the beauty spot Loch Doon.
Locals, who don’t have to evacuate, have been warned to keep doors and windows closed.
The dry and warm weather conditions has seen a number of fires starting, including in the very north of the country in the west Highlands, near Ullapool.
Wildfire warnings have been issued in the most under-threat areas with police closing a stretch of the A835 between the Achiltibuie junction and the junction at Badagyle.
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Six fire crews are tackling the ferocious blaze, with some travelling almost 70 miles to help.
According to firefighters the fire wall stretches 6km, as large plumes of smoke have descended over the area, hampering visibility, as they battle the flames.
Stewart Gibson, team leader at Galloway Mountain Rescue, said fire crews had four helicopters water bombing the flames from above, with the fire spreading “two to three miles wide”.
He has urged people who are out walking or camping to avoid lighting fires or having naked flames.
Mr Gibson told BBC Radio’s The Sunday Show: “It’s an exceptionally dry period of weather we have been having and I know for the next week it is going to be very dry as well.
“So anyone out with a camping stove, anything can park the fire, so we would urge anyone out to take care.”We would advise people not to light camp fires and use naked flames.”
The fires continued to burn all weekend with SFRS officers still actively tackling two blazes, one 750 metres long and another 100 metres long.
In the last 10 days, wildfires have been tackled in the Torry area of Aberdeen, near Inverness between Culduthel and Inverarnie, and in the Stirlingshire and East Dunbartonshire areas.
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Fire service commander Garry Douglas said: “There are currently vast areas that are tinder dry and vulnerable, providing the ingredients for fire.
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“Human behaviour is the cause of most wildfires.”
Environment watchdogs SEPA say that only higher-than-average downpours in spring and summer will avert the potential for drought conditions later.
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