More than 30 rescuers saved an Aberdeenshire woodlands from being “destroyed” by a huge wildfire yesterday.
The 8,600sqft blaze broke out on the edge of the Rhindbuckie Wood at Eslie, near Strachan, at about 2.25pm, coming within feet of a newly redeveloped farm house.
Locals described seeing smoke passing by their front doors before six fire appliances, two forestry units and a water carrier arrived on the scene.
A total of 34 firefighter were deployed to Eslie Farm from Banchory, Stonehaven, Aboyne, North Anderson Drive, Aberdeen Central and Inverbervie.
And last night the rescuers were credited with stopping the spread of the flames to the Rhindbuckie Wood using hose reel jets, beaters and knapsacks.
Fire and rescue station manager, Stuart Cruickshank, said when crews first arrived they were “quick to establish” the need to stop the spread of the flames to the forest.
He added: “We were called to a well developed grass fire. It had developed a little more due to the wind.
“Certainly the wind was probably the biggest problem, it means it tends to flare up in little pockets every now and then.
“Potential for fire spread is high especially if it starts going past the top of the trees. if it had hit the tops of the trees we could have been here a while. We had six appliances plus a water carrier and a forestry unit.
“It was fairly well developed. The first crew arrived and assessed very quickly what was needing done, that they needed more resources to attend.
“To be honest with you the guys worked really hard and were able to extinguish it actually quite quickly. It was a really good effort.”
Police were also made aware of the fire.
Mr Cruickshank added he does not believe the blaze was suspicious.
He said: “It doesn’t look deliberate.”
One local woman, who lives near to the woods, said: “The smoke was filling the hill here. I went out onto the road and there was a siren going.
“The way the wind was coming it was sort of blowing this way and you could smell it.
“It is a miracle they brought it under control, it could have destroyed everything, it has been very dry.”
The wildfire was brought under control by about 5.30pm.
