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Cairngorms wildfire ends major incident, residents return

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-07-25 23:14 UTC → 2026-07-26 15:25 UTC · added removed

Cairngorms wildfire under control, ends major incident, residents return

The wildfire that ignited Cairngorms wildfire, which began near Ryvoan Bothy on 15 July spread across the Caledonian pine forest and prompted a major‑incident declaration on 23 July. July, burned for about ten days before finally receding. Police Scotland ordered declared a major incident on the precautionary evening of 24 July as the blaze threatened the highland village of Nethy Bridge, prompting the evacuation of about roughly 650 residents from Nethy Bridge, and the deployment of more than 500 firefighters, fire appliances, two water‑bombing helicopters, bulldozers and drones worked drone surveillance. The major‑incident status was lifted on the terrain. night of 25 July after the fire’s intensity dropped and hot‑spot monitoring showed a steady decline. The Scottish Government’s Resilience Room confirmed that conditions were safe enough for residents to return home, and evacuation orders were formally cancelled. First Minister John Swinney chaired resilience meetings, publicly thanked responders emergency crews and sought announced that a request for UK military aerial support. Residents criticised the delay in declaring support had been made. Justice Secretary Neil Gray later clarified that the incident and issuing evacuation orders, describing UK military does not possess the smoke as “apocalyptic”. Improving weather and sustained containment efforts reduced required capability, leaving the threat by 25 July. Superintendent Judy Hill announced that request unanswered. The ongoing response forced the immediate danger had passed, lifted cancellation of the major‑incident status Abernethy Highland Games, scheduled to take place in Nethy Bridge. Local leaders and allowed residents continued to return home. Swinney praised criticize the community’s resilience while warning timing of the major‑incident declaration and the perceived lack of communication from Edinburgh. Officials, however, stressed that authorities will remain vigilant the situation remained serious and that firefighting resources would stay in place until the fire blaze is fully extinguished. Firefighting Fire‑fighting operations continue to monitor now focus on monitoring remaining hotspots, but evacuation orders have been lifted and with the situation is now overall incident described as under control.

Versions

  1. 2026-07-26 15:25 UTC Cairngorms wildfire ends major incident, residents return
  2. 2026-07-25 23:14 UTC Cairngorms wildfire under control, residents return
  3. 2026-07-25 20:53 UTC Cairngorms wildfire persists, evacuation continues

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