This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-22037945
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Firefighters extinguish wildfires on Skye | Firefighters extinguish wildfires on Skye |
| (1 day later) | |
| Fire crews on Skye have extinguished a wildfire which had stretched over 10 hectares, threatening local properties. | Fire crews on Skye have extinguished a wildfire which had stretched over 10 hectares, threatening local properties. |
| More than 30 firefighters attended the scene at Skeabost Bridge, north of Portree. No injuries were reported. | More than 30 firefighters attended the scene at Skeabost Bridge, north of Portree. No injuries were reported. |
| At one point, the fire was said to have had three fronts - each a mile long. | At one point, the fire was said to have had three fronts - each a mile long. |
| Firefighters have also been dealing with a wildfire in Bettyhill in Sutherland. There have been more than 200 fires in the Highlands in the past 10 days. | Firefighters have also been dealing with a wildfire in Bettyhill in Sutherland. There have been more than 200 fires in the Highlands in the past 10 days. |
| The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service earlier said the last of the wildfires in the Highlands and Islands had been extinguished. | The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service earlier said the last of the wildfires in the Highlands and Islands had been extinguished. |
| A major fire, at Achmore near Plockton, was put out on Thursday evening. | A major fire, at Achmore near Plockton, was put out on Thursday evening. |
| Fire crews were called to the blaze on Skye at 17:10 BST on Friday and found it rapidly spreading over an area of grass and heathland due to the dry conditions. | Fire crews were called to the blaze on Skye at 17:10 BST on Friday and found it rapidly spreading over an area of grass and heathland due to the dry conditions. |
| A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters had been assisted by the local community to prevent the fires spreading to three nearby properties. | A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters had been assisted by the local community to prevent the fires spreading to three nearby properties. |
| The number of wildfires being tackled over the last 10 days was said to have placed severe strain on the fire service. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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 | 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. | 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. | "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 | 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 were 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. |
| 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. |