NEARLY 70 firefighters, forestry staff and estate workers joined forces to battle a huge blaze on an Aberdeenshire hillside yesterday.
Almost a square mile of woodland was destroyed when a controlled burning got out of hand.
Pine trees and heather were engulfed in flames and fire crews said getting to the isolated location on the Rickarton Estate near Stonehaven had made tackling the blaze a “logistical nightmare”.
Regular fire appliances that arrived at the scene at Craigneil Hill, beside Durris Forest, could only get so far along single tracks and two of the brigade’s all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) had to be used.
A fire and rescue service spokeswoman said: “Two ATVs were brought in, from Altens and Ballater fire stations, as there was about an hour’s walk facing crews, taking them from their appliances to the scene of the fire.
“The ATVs are specially adapted to overcome difficult ground surfaces, and also have a high-pressure lance, which trains a powerful jet on the flames.
“They are designed to carry personnel, knapsack sprayers filled with water and beaters, which are used to reach parts of the fire where the water can’t be taken to.
“The all-clear was given just before 5pm, and the crews gradually withdrew from the scene, after ensuring there would be no spread or reignition, and had all left by around 7.30pm.”
Jackie Littler-Gordon, whose home overlooks the area, said: “I was making my way home when I saw the firefighters heading up the track.
“The first thing I thought was ‘I hope nothing has happened to my home’.
“This is the first time that the heather has caused so much trouble. It’s obviously proving really hard to get under control judging by the number of people they have up here. It’s quite an inaccessible area and the fire crews can’t get the trucks up. They’re having to head up there on quad-bikes.”
Another resident, who stays just off the A957, between Rickarton and Durris Forest, said she knew something was amiss when she saw dozens of sheep coming down the hill behind her farmhouse.
She added: “My friends have been phoning to check that I am all right, which I am, but I believe that the blaze was quite a bit off the beaten track.”
At the height of the fire, 11 appliances were at the scene, flanked by support vehicles, including two forestry units, a water carrier from Stonehaven, a support appliance and incident-command unit from Altens and the welfare pod from Huntly.
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “There was no danger to people or property. It was a controlled burning which got out of hand.
“It was in a remote location and there were around three-quarters of a mile of heather on fire.”
The fire had burned for more than four hours before it was brought under control and the all-clear given.
Incident commander and Aberdeen area manager Duncan Smith said: “Our crews worked tirelessly to prevent further fire spread from this incident.
“We are receiving excellent support from our colleagues at Police Scotland and from the Forestry Commission, who manage the neighbouring Durris Forest.
“Firefighters had to work on very challenging terrain, but carried out an excellent job.”
The alarm was raised about 12.50pm.