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The UK’s largest national park, the Cairngorms, has introduced a ban on campfires and barbecues to help curb the threat of wildfires. This measure was enacted following an extensive public consultation led by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA). Covering an area of 1,748 square miles (4,527 sq km), the park overlaps five local authority regions: Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland, Moray, and Perth and Kinross. Approximately 18,000 people live within this area, which attracts around two million visitors annually.
To ensure the ban is upheld, the CNPA has coordinated with Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to enforce the new regulation effectively. Public awareness will be raised through leaflets, social media campaigns, and signage throughout the park. The by-law empowers authorities to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 for any violations. The prohibition on campfires and barbecues is in effect from April 1 to September 30 each year to minimize the fire risk during the drier months.
Climate change has contributed to a heightened risk of wildfires in Scotland, as emphasized by CNPA Convener Sandy Bremner, who stated, “We want people to keep enjoying all that the national park offers but we also need everyone to help protect it.” Bremner added, “We know it only takes one rogue spark to start a wildfire and when there is so much to lose, we can’t take that risk.” The park has faced ongoing challenges related to fires and antisocial conduct, including a notable incident in 2020 when rangers reported that a “disco party” in Glen Doll, Angus, left behind fires, rubbish, and human waste. Other problems have involved numerous campfires in sensitive areas requiring firefighter intervention, although the majority of visitors have been responsible.
Significant wildfires affected the park last summer, particularly in parts of the Highlands and Moray. Scottish Land and Estates estimated that these fires scorched roughly 29,225 acres (11,827 hectares), an expanse nearly 30 times the size of Lanarkshire’s Strathclyde Park. The blazes near Dava and Carrbridge led to road closures and prompted health warnings for nearby residents to keep their windows closed due to smoke. Observers even noted smoke drifting 40 miles (64 km) across the Moray Firth.
According to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), wildfires are defined as uncontrolled outdoor fires burning over 1,000 square meters. Such fires typically occur in regions with flammable vegetation and can spread rapidly. Human activities like barbecues, discarded cigarettes, and sunlight focused through glass bottles often trigger these events. Peaty soil found in moorland areas exacerbates the situation by fueling ongoing flames. Area Commander Robert Lennox stressed the dangers, explaining, “Wildfires pose a real risk to people, properties and nature.” He further noted the strain such incidents place on emergency services, particularly given their frequent occurrence in remote locations. Lennox highlighted the increasing frequency of extreme weather events impacting communities in the Cairngorms, stating, “Extreme weather events are becoming more common across Scotland, and we know that communities in the Cairngorms have felt this acutely in recent years, with floods, drought and wildfires.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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