Wildfire warning issued as drone images reveal height of risk
Last updated 7th Apr 2025
The current good weather is encouraging more of us to get outdoors. But, with that, comes an increased risk of wildfires.
Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team has revealed it has been called out to two in the last two days, while drone footage has been released showing another in the hills above Selkirk.
Firefighters also remain at the scene of a wildfire which has been burning in the south west of the country since Thursday.
Helicopters were deployed to "water-bomb" the blaze, which began in the Glen Trool area of the Galloway Forest Park, but has since stretched up to Loch Doon in East Ayrshire.
Anyone camping in the area was advised by police to leave.
The Scottish Government's held an emergency meeting to discuss the ongoing situation.
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Angela Constance said: “Earlier this week the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service issued an extreme wildfire warning due to the dry conditions across much of Scotland. As we continue to see a period of warm and dry weather, it’s essential that all of us act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors so we can keep the number of wildfires at an absolute minimum.”
The risk of wildfires remains extremely high across our region with the recent lack of rain leaving tinder dry conditions.
A spokesperson for Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team said: "The current weather forecast shows that the warm and dry conditions will continue for at least the next four days. We also have some gusty winds. All of this combines to create a high wildfire risk for the County of Northumberland for at least the next five days.
"We are still in the heather and grass burning season. However, given the current conditions, we urge everyone to reconsider any prescribed/ controlled burning at this time.
"Our goal is to prevent further fires and protect our communities."
Crews from Galashiels, Peebles, Selkirk and Innerleithen were called out in response to a blaze on Peat Law, just below the Three Brethren, near Selkirk, on Sunday.
Tom Nash is a drone pilot with Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team and reveals the difference technology is making to their jobs.
He told Greatest Hits Radio: "Being able to see the size and scale of the fire front - how it was increasing and decreasing - meant that the fire commander could make educated and informed decisions about where and when he deployed the firefighters, as opposed to putting everyone out on the hill.
"What it also allowed us to do was maintain that constant presence in the sky. There were two fires up there, either side of a main pathway which leads back down into the Philiphaugh area. And so, although one was extinguised, we were monitoring that one to make sure there were no flare ups.
"It meant then that the fire commander could put fire fighters onto the fire that they were fighting without having to lose assets standing watching stuff that had been extinguised but then had the potential to reflare."
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It's understood it's only the second time the equipment has been deployed by the team to monitor wildfires.
But it's hoped the new technology will help ease the pressure on the local fire service - and save lives.
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Tom, who is part of the Search and Rescue Aerial Association (SARAA), added: "The technology is now so advanced that we can actually live stream the video footage from the site back into the command centre, so for community resilience such as fire-fighting like this or flood work, bosses can make decisions at a strategic level for where and when they want to deploy their resources.
"That means only the resources that are needed are deployed and frees up people for other things."
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