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The village of Nethy Bridge, located near a significant wildfire in the Cairngorms, has been given the green light for residents to return to their homes following an evacuation order issued on Friday night. Initially, the fire had been classified as a major incident due to a shift in weather conditions, but Police Scotland has since lifted this status.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney emphasized that the government and emergency agencies will maintain their focus and resources on combating the blaze until it is fully extinguished. Despite the progress made, local residents have expressed dissatisfaction with how the wildfire has been managed. Many criticized the delayed declaration of the incident as major and felt the government’s response escalation was too slow.
A statement from Police Scotland on Saturday evening confirmed that after a comprehensive multi-agency effort, residents of Nethy Bridge could safely return to their properties. Kenny Barbour, Deputy Assistant Chief Officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, noted that the decision to stand down the major incident followed thorough evaluations by responders. He explained that “the extensive work carried out over recent days, including the creation of effective fire breaks, has significantly reduced the risk to nearby communities, allowing evacuated residents to safely return home.” Supt Judy Hill also highlighted the continued priority attached to the response, acknowledging the dedication of numerous partnership agencies and volunteers operating under challenging conditions.
Firefighters remain active in the affected areas, with around 75 personnel still present to ensure the situation remains under control. At a meeting convened by the Scottish government’s resilience room, progress was reported in strengthening fire breaks, which help protect residential zones, and a decline in the number of active fire hotspots. While welcoming the lifting of the evacuation order, First Minister Swinney reiterated the ongoing commitment of government and emergency services to treat the wildfire with the highest level of seriousness until it is completely extinguished.
Despite these efforts, communication and incident management have drawn criticism from local voices. The leader of the Nethy Bridge community council, Sandy McCook, expressed frustration over decisions being made remotely from Edinburgh. Additionally, resident John McGlinchey described the evacuation process as “just not organised properly.” Responding to such concerns, Cabinet Secretary for Justice Neil Gray affirmed that the government and emergency services have dedicated extensive resources and effort throughout the incident.
The fire initially ignited near Glenmore village on the previous Wednesday, prompting evacuations of residents and campsites. At its peak, the blaze affected an area roughly six square kilometers in size, composed of heather and small trees, with over 500 firefighters deployed to battle it. Police Scotland issued a further evacuation for properties northwest of Dorback Lodge, specifically in Lain Thatchan, as a precautionary measure on Saturday morning. People living within the impacted regions or affected by smoke, including areas in Aberdeenshire and Moray, were advised to keep all windows and doors closed to minimize smoke exposure
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