Scotland - Highlands Wildfire now declared a Major Incident

I’ve got loads of friends who are currently affected by the Cairngorms fire, it’s so worrying. My ds in the US was badly affected healthwise by the Canadian fires last week, too. With all the man-made crises like Ukraine and Iran, as well, it feels like the entire world is on fire at times.

I just feel that as a country, the UK is unprepared, underfunded and unrealistic about the various threats the land and the people face. Politicians would be wise (for once) to consider ensuring our critical resources are up to date and available!

Fleur20

And if John Swinney had ANYTHING about him he would have asked Westminster for help from the Armed Forces. But no ... he wants to be Independent.. while peoples livelihoods and acres and acres of natural habitat are being wiped out.. the birds and animals and insects destroyed. I hope people remember this in future.

The military are assisting with the fires in Wales
www.gov.wales/written-statement-wildfires-in-wales
However, there just aren’t enough helicopters in service, it’s an issue for the Uk as a whole.

Unfortunately once the peat heats up underground, it smoulders and maintains the fire. Very difficult to deal with.
Fire is devastating wherever it occurs. I feel so sorry for those caught up in it, in Britain and on the continent.

I know Nethy well. The residents must be terrified just now as the while village is evacuated.

And if John Swinney had ANYTHING about him he would have asked Westminster for help from the Armed Forces. But no ... he wants to be Independent.. while peoples livelihoods and acres and acres of natural habitat are being wiped out.. the birds and animals and insects destroyed. I hope people remember this in future.

I’ve just seen on BBC news that there is also a large wildfire, the size of a small town has been destroyed so far, Tintwistle in the Peak District. It’s been ongoing since June.

There’s a big wildfire on the moors near Blaenavon in South Wales too at the moment, it’s been going since Sunday, and the smoke is affecting homes up to 30 miles away. The fire service are struggling to get it under control, they are short of resources.

So frightening for humans and animals. The destruction is dreadful.

200000 have been evacuated on the continent, and more heat is expected until the autumn rains - which are, according to our weatherman expected to be biblical - particularly again in Europe.

Oh well, as they say “drill, baby, drill”

It's awful to watch, and now we have wind which is fanning the flames even further. There was a large fire at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh just the other day, and the aftermath of that is bad enough to see, never mind the much larger destruction happening in the Cairngorms now.

Terrible destruction. Hope they can conquer it soon.

We used to have a house close to Nethy Bridge so I know the area well. So sad. A friend’s son from Nethy has been volunteering with the firefighters for the last week along with many other local volunteers. As you say, they must all be exhausted.