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Last of 200 Highland wildfires extinguished Firefighters tackle new wildfires on Skye and in Sutherland
(about 7 hours later)
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has said the last of the wildfires in the Highlands and Islands has been extinguished. A wildfire has broken out on Skye and is said to be threatening properties.
More than 200 outbreaks have been reported in the region over a period of 10 days. More than 30 firefighters are at the scene, which stretches over 10 hectares, at Skeabost Bridge, north of Portree.
The last major fire, at Achmore near Plockton, was put out on Thursday evening. The fire is said to have three fronts - each a mile long.
The number of fires being tackled was said to have placed severe strain on the fire service. Firefighters are also in attendance at a wildfire in Bettyhill in Sutherland.
In much of the Highland region, it relies heavily on part-time retained crews. There have been more than 200 fires in the Highlands in the past 10 days.
The fires led to a warning from wildlife experts that dozens of golden eagle eggs and other rare bird nests may have been destroyed. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service earlier said the last of the wildfires in the Highlands and Islands had been extinguished.
Robert Scott, assistant chief officer for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's north area, said: "The last week has seen an exceptional period of activity with almost 240 wildfire incidents in the Highlands and Islands area. A major fire, at Achmore near Plockton, was put out on Thursday evening.
"I would like to thank the retained, community response and wholetime staff for their dedication and commitment, as they have worked around the clock to ensure these incidents were brought under control and finally extinguished." However, fire crews were called to the blaze on Skye at 17:10 on Friday and found it rapidly spreading over an area of grass and heathland due to the dry conditions.
He added: "Whilst there are no wildfire incidents in the Highlands and Islands at present, the land and weather conditions still pose a high risk of fire and I would urge visitors and local communities that when venturing into the countryside to be aware of outdoor fire safety. A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters were being assisted by the local community to prevent the fires spreading to three properties near the fires.
"Members of the public should take care not to use camp fires, barbeques, (and not) carelessly discard cigarettes, glass bottles etc which can result in significant wildfires." The number of wildfires being tackled over the last 10 days was said to have placed severe strain on the fire service.
Much of the Highland region relies heavily on part-time retained crews.
Robert Scott, assistant chief officer for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's north area, earlier praised firefighters who have been tackling the blazes.
"The last week has seen an exceptional period of activity with almost 240 wildfire incidents in the Highlands and Islands area," he said.
"I would like to thank the retained, community response and wholetime staff for their dedication and commitment, as they have worked around the clock."
Eagle eggs
He warned that the land and weather conditions still posed a high risk of fire and urged visitors and local communities that when venturing into the countryside to be aware of outdoor fire safety.
"Members of the public should take care not to use camp fires, barbeques, (and not) carelessly discard cigarettes, glass bottles etc which can result in significant wildfires," he said.
The fires led to a warning from wildlife experts that dozens of golden eagle eggs and other rare bird nests may have been destroyed
RSPB Scotland said it was seriously concerned about the impact on the golden eagle, which nests in open moorland.RSPB Scotland said it was seriously concerned about the impact on the golden eagle, which nests in open moorland.
There are also concerns for thousands of migrant birds that are due to nest in the area in the next few weeks. There were also concerns for thousands of migrant birds that are due to nest in the area in the next few weeks.
'Devastating impact'
There are thought to be about 400 pairs of golden eagles in Scotland, mainly in the Highlands.
James Reynolds, of the RSPB, said the loss of nests could have a devastating impact on the population.
"It is absolutely certain that we will have lost a number of golden eagle nests," he said. "How many we don't know, but for a population that small, even the loss of one nest is serious.
"The loss of double figures will potentially have a huge impact.
"Numbers are already very low, this will just hold them back further."
The RSPB has sent experts to the Highlands to try to assess the extent of the damage.The RSPB has sent experts to the Highlands to try to assess the extent of the damage.
Mr Reynolds added that white-tailed eagle eggs may also be at risk, as well as those of migrant birds such as short-eared owls, dotterel, golden plover and wheatears, which are due to nest from mid April. Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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