A Dunblane teenager who had been enjoying the sunshine at a Callander beauty spot with his pals sprung into action to stop a wildfire from spreading.
Cameron Darnbrough was with his friends at the Scout Pool – near to the popular Bracklinn Falls beauty spot – in the town on Saturday, June 10 when another group left behind a disposable barbecue.
It was left still smouldering and inside a plastic bag.
Eagle-eyed Cameron, 17, and his pals – Joe Curtis, Tom McKay and Euan Seaman – spotted smoke coming from the barbecue which quickly set fire to the ground around it.
One man was quickly on the scene with a fire beater to tackle the flames.
After the fire service was alerted, Cameron then ran 2km to collect more beaters, then back to the scene, before he and his friends spent the next hour beating the flames back as they waited for crews to arrive.
Fire crews have commended the boys’ quick actions. Cameron said they continued to beat back the flames while crews tackled the blaze to stop it spreading and cutting off key access routes to the spot.
Cameron, who recently graduated from Dunblane High, told the Observer: “Me and few of my friends saw folk leaving and they had been having a barbecue.
“After they left we saw some smoke and flames and they had left the hot barbecue in a carrier bag and just left it.
“There was a big area of flames because it hadn’t rained for a while.
“One guy had a fire beater and I ran 2km uphill to get some more beaters.
“The fire was spreading and we were beating away for an hour before the fire engine arrived.
“The fire brigade arrived and they chatted to us and asked us to keep helping them – we must have beat the flames back for about two hours all in.”
He added: “It was a real graft. It was a hot day and the flames were very hot too – it was roasting!”
The SFRS have issued repeated warnings about the dangers of using of disposable barbecues public areas in hot weather but despite this people continue to flout the guidance.
They urge people to always to call 999 and follow advice before taking any action.
SFRS Station Commander for Callander Sean Partington attended the incident.
He said: “We were alerted at 5.10pm on Saturday, 10 June to reports of a fire in the open at Bracklinn Falls, Callander.
“Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances, where crews were met with a fire affecting an area of trees and vegetation well alight.
“Firefighters located the cause of the fire which was found to be a used disposable barbecue discarded in a plastic bag.”
Station Commander Partington thanked the youths for raising the alarm.
He added: “Had it not been for their quick actions, the fire would have undoubtedly spread more rapidly and affected the surrounding gorse and bracken.
“We know that barbecues and campfires are an enjoyable part of summer, however, only dispose of ashes when cold to touch and into a waste bin.
“Hot ashes can melt a plastic wheelie bin and have the potential to cause a fire with devastating consequences.”
