Firefighters from across the Highlands and Islands were out in force yesterday as they battled to bring wildfires on the west coast and on Skye under control.
One blaze, at Edinbane, 14 miles north of Portree, broke-out at at about 10.55am and soon stretched out over a large area of moorland and trees.
Crews worked for hours in an effort to extinguish the fire, which was at one point described as “out of control” by concerned locals.
The scale of the fire saw the first fire crews joined by others from across the north, with appliances from Portree, Broadford and Dunvegan, Applecross, Kyle of Lochalsh and Drumnadrochit, Inverness, Staffin and Dingwall all involved.
They worked in shifts – six crews fighting the fire at a time – to ensure they remained fresh and safe.
Skye councillor John Gordon said the weather had created testing conditions for the emergency services.
He praised their efforts to control the Skye blaze.
“We’ve had a very dry spell of weather, which although welcome brings with it the threat of wildfires,” he said.
“The emergency services are working hard to control the fires, which have spread so much, despite their incredible efforts.”
Thick smoke closed a number of roads in the area.
As the Skye fire raged, firefighters elsewhere on the west coast were trying to contain two separate wildfires, just 20 miles apart.
Crews were first notified of a blaze between Acharacle and Salen shortly after 9am yesterday.
Six appliances were initially sent, with teams from Fort William, Spean Bridge and Mallaig shouldering the burden of efforts as the operation was scaled back by late afternoon.
But while they continued their work, a third fire sparked into life, not far from the A830 Mallaig to Fort William road, at the “Lily Pond”, around a mile-and-a-half from Mallaig.
Crews were called to attend at 4.35. Again it did not prove as ferocious as that on Skye.
Last night, Scottish Fire and Rescue said crews remained at all three wildfires.
