Fire crews warn of ‘unpredictable nature’ of wildfires after Cairngorms blaze

Fire crews are still tending to the Cairngorms wildfire but have said there has been significant progress in the last day - (PA Wire)

Fire crews continue to tackle a significant wildfire in the Cairngorms, though authorities have reported "significant progress" over the past 24 hours.

The blaze, which ignited late on Wednesday morning, has seen a substantial deployment of resources from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

On Saturday evening, the SFRS confirmed six fire appliances, two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), a Wildfire Support Unit, and a water carrier helicopter were actively engaged at the scene. Water-bombing operations are ongoing as part of the effort to bring the fire under control.

Improvements have been noted in areas such as Strathnethy, particularly on its western and eastern flanks.

Firefighters have been battling a wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park in northeast Scotland since Wednesday morning (PA)

However, crews face their toughest conditions between 3pm and 6:30pm daily due to rising temperatures, with the service currently assessing resource needs for Sunday.

Michael Humphreys, SFRS deputy assistant chief officer, offered reassurance to local residents while cautioning against complacency.

He stated: "We hope this update provides reassurance to local residents and communities.

Over the last 24 hours, areas including Strathnethy on the western and eastern flanks have seen improvement (PA)

“However, it is equally important that expectations are managed given the unpredictable nature of wildfire incidents and the ongoing influence of weather conditions."

Mr Humphreys also extended gratitude for the collaborative efforts, adding: "We would like to thank the partnership working of landowners and agencies and our local communities for their continued patience, and cooperation throughout this incident."