Progress Made in Controlling Galloway Wildfire Amid Ongoing Efforts
Firefighters report significant advancements in stabilizing the blaze in Galloway Forest Park as new wildfires emerge in the Highlands.
Firefighters are actively working to control a wildfire that has been burning since Thursday in Galloway Forest Park, with improvements reported in managing the situation.
The fire, which originated in the Glen Trool area, has extended towards Loch Doon in East Ayrshire.
Authorities issued evacuation advisories to campers in the vicinity as emergency services responded to the incident.
Some campers were safely rescued via helicopter during the operations.
Over the weekend, helicopters were deployed to conduct water-bombing efforts to douse the flames, and a fire engine remained stationed at the site overnight into Monday, with another vehicle en route to assist by 6:30 AM.
Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance expressed gratitude towards the emergency responders, noting the significant progress made in controlling the fire, which has not yet resulted in damage to property or mature woodland.
She chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) on Sunday evening to discuss the response efforts, stating, "The situation is currently under control."
In conjunction with the Galloway incident, firefighters are also addressing a separate wildfire at Stac Pollaidh in Inverpolly Forest, located north of Ullapool, which ignited on Sunday morning.
Five fire appliances are currently engaged at that site, and local residents and visitors are advised to avoid the area.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) had issued a warning for extremely high wildfire risks across Scotland from April 2 to April 7, amid dry and sunny weather conditions.
In collaboration with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, the SFRS urged the public to refrain from lighting outdoor fires in all regions of Scotland.
The Galloway Mountain Rescue Team was involved in evacuating campers over the weekend, stressing the importance of caution and the risks posed by campfires during the ongoing dry weather.
In a public statement, they advised, "It’s an exceptionally dry period of weather we have been having and for the next week it is going to be very dry as well."
In light of the severe wildfire warnings, the Justice Secretary highlighted the necessity for the public to act responsibly while enjoying outdoor activities to mitigate the occurrence of wildfires.
The fire, which originated in the Glen Trool area, has extended towards Loch Doon in East Ayrshire.
Authorities issued evacuation advisories to campers in the vicinity as emergency services responded to the incident.
Some campers were safely rescued via helicopter during the operations.
Over the weekend, helicopters were deployed to conduct water-bombing efforts to douse the flames, and a fire engine remained stationed at the site overnight into Monday, with another vehicle en route to assist by 6:30 AM.
Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance expressed gratitude towards the emergency responders, noting the significant progress made in controlling the fire, which has not yet resulted in damage to property or mature woodland.
She chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) on Sunday evening to discuss the response efforts, stating, "The situation is currently under control."
In conjunction with the Galloway incident, firefighters are also addressing a separate wildfire at Stac Pollaidh in Inverpolly Forest, located north of Ullapool, which ignited on Sunday morning.
Five fire appliances are currently engaged at that site, and local residents and visitors are advised to avoid the area.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) had issued a warning for extremely high wildfire risks across Scotland from April 2 to April 7, amid dry and sunny weather conditions.
In collaboration with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, the SFRS urged the public to refrain from lighting outdoor fires in all regions of Scotland.
The Galloway Mountain Rescue Team was involved in evacuating campers over the weekend, stressing the importance of caution and the risks posed by campfires during the ongoing dry weather.
In a public statement, they advised, "It’s an exceptionally dry period of weather we have been having and for the next week it is going to be very dry as well."
In light of the severe wildfire warnings, the Justice Secretary highlighted the necessity for the public to act responsibly while enjoying outdoor activities to mitigate the occurrence of wildfires.
