Scottish Wildfire Forces Evacuations as Blaze Expands from Galloway to East Ayrshire
Emergency services contend with escalating wildfire conditions in Scotland and Northern Ireland, prompting evacuations and road closures.
Emergency services in Scotland are engaged in firefighting efforts as a wildfire continues to spread from Galloway to East Ayrshire, leading to evacuations of walkers and wild campers.
The blaze originated in the Newton Stewart area on Thursday and has progressed to reach Loch Doon by the weekend due to changing wind conditions.
Residents in surrounding areas have been advised to keep windows and doors closed.
Local police have recommended avoiding the affected regions.
On Sunday evening, the Scottish government convened an emergency meeting to coordinate response efforts for the wildfire in Galloway Forest Park.
The Scottish government’s Resilience Room (SGORR) was activated for this purpose, with Justice Secretary Angela Constance presiding over the meeting.
By the evening of Sunday, fire crews operated by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) had temporarily withdrawn from firefighting efforts due to low light conditions, with plans to resume operations at dawn on Monday.
Stewart Gibson, team leader at Galloway Mountain Rescue, reported that fire crews had utilized four helicopters to drop water on the flames, which at one point had a front several miles wide.
The wildfire warnings were heightened earlier in the week as rising temperatures across the UK sparked concerns about fire risks, with the SFRS indicating a “very high to extreme risk” of fire spread under the current warm and dry conditions.
In light of these threats, the public has been urged to refrain from outdoor fires and barbecues, and to ensure safe disposal of cigarettes and glass.
In addition to the Galloway wildfire, another active blaze was reported in the Highlands near Ullapool, where six fire crews were deployed.
The smoke from this fire significantly hampered visibility, and fire crews had traveled nearly 70 miles to provide assistance.
This incident involved a firewall stretching over three miles.
In Northern Ireland, fire brigades responded to a fire in County Antrim on Sunday afternoon, where six fire engines and approximately 40 firefighters worked to manage the situation near Conogher Road, Dervock.
Group commander Danny Ard reported that crews employed jets and specialist wildfire equipment to achieve containment, extinguishing the fire by 8 pm.
Additionally, a major incident caused by a wildfire in Northern Ireland’s Mourne Mountains district, which broke out on Saturday, was successfully extinguished by Sunday morning.
Authorities confirmed that over 100 firefighters and 15 fire appliances were deployed to the Sandbank Road area in Hilltown to combat the fire, which was believed to have been set deliberately.
Police subsequently arrested one individual in connection with this incident.
The fire was said to have impacted about two miles of land, including a substantial forestry area in proximity to residential properties.
The blaze originated in the Newton Stewart area on Thursday and has progressed to reach Loch Doon by the weekend due to changing wind conditions.
Residents in surrounding areas have been advised to keep windows and doors closed.
Local police have recommended avoiding the affected regions.
On Sunday evening, the Scottish government convened an emergency meeting to coordinate response efforts for the wildfire in Galloway Forest Park.
The Scottish government’s Resilience Room (SGORR) was activated for this purpose, with Justice Secretary Angela Constance presiding over the meeting.
By the evening of Sunday, fire crews operated by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) had temporarily withdrawn from firefighting efforts due to low light conditions, with plans to resume operations at dawn on Monday.
Stewart Gibson, team leader at Galloway Mountain Rescue, reported that fire crews had utilized four helicopters to drop water on the flames, which at one point had a front several miles wide.
The wildfire warnings were heightened earlier in the week as rising temperatures across the UK sparked concerns about fire risks, with the SFRS indicating a “very high to extreme risk” of fire spread under the current warm and dry conditions.
In light of these threats, the public has been urged to refrain from outdoor fires and barbecues, and to ensure safe disposal of cigarettes and glass.
In addition to the Galloway wildfire, another active blaze was reported in the Highlands near Ullapool, where six fire crews were deployed.
The smoke from this fire significantly hampered visibility, and fire crews had traveled nearly 70 miles to provide assistance.
This incident involved a firewall stretching over three miles.
In Northern Ireland, fire brigades responded to a fire in County Antrim on Sunday afternoon, where six fire engines and approximately 40 firefighters worked to manage the situation near Conogher Road, Dervock.
Group commander Danny Ard reported that crews employed jets and specialist wildfire equipment to achieve containment, extinguishing the fire by 8 pm.
Additionally, a major incident caused by a wildfire in Northern Ireland’s Mourne Mountains district, which broke out on Saturday, was successfully extinguished by Sunday morning.
Authorities confirmed that over 100 firefighters and 15 fire appliances were deployed to the Sandbank Road area in Hilltown to combat the fire, which was believed to have been set deliberately.
Police subsequently arrested one individual in connection with this incident.
The fire was said to have impacted about two miles of land, including a substantial forestry area in proximity to residential properties.
