Wildfire Risk & Wilful Fire-Raising Alert

On Tuesday, 1^st April an act of wilful fire-raising took place in the Hill of Banchory area were an area of gorse was set on fire. This quickly took hold and was in danger of impacting neighbouring Banchory Sports Village.

Thanks to the quick actions of our emergency services, the fire was contained before further damage was caused.

This incident comes as Scottish Fire & Rescue has issued a wildfire warning for across Scotland, with areas now at very high to extreme risk.

With wildfire risk at very high to extreme levels, please follow these safety tips:

• Dispose of cigarettes and matches responsibly – ensure they are fully extinguished and never drop them on the ground.
• Avoid lighting open fires or barbecues in the countryside.
• Don’t leave glass bottles or litter – take it home with you and leave no trace. Glass in direct sunlight can cause a fire.
• If you see smoke or flames, call 999 immediately – don’t assume it’s already reported.

Group Commander Garry Douglas said: “During any period of heightened risk, fires can ignite easily, spread very quickly, and burn with high intensity.

“At this time of year in early Spring, we typically have a large volume of dead, bone-dry vegetation across large areas of countryside. This essentially acts as fuel for fire.

“Human behaviour is the cause of most wildfires in Scotland, so it is imperative we all act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors especially over the coming days of predicted sunshine.

“By following some simple but key advice, we can significantly reduce the risk of wildfire occurring.”

Police Scotland is appealing to anyone with information which may assist with enquiries into the fire-raising to contact the police on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.