By Tom Ramage

Copyright inverness-courier

Money is being made available by the Cairngorms National Park Authority to assist local estates who lost equipment in their brave battle with the worst wildfires the country has ever seen.

Scottish Land and Estates has confirmed that it will administer the grant funding aimed at replacing the equipment damaged as the fires swept from Carrbridge to the Dava Moor.

The inferno devastated 11,827 hectares of moorland and woodland in late June and early July. An initial fund of £10,000 has been established to contribute towards the cost of damages and breakages to equipment.

More than 100 people from 33 rural businesses, including 27 estates, tackled the fires alongside the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service.

The collective value of specialist firefighting equipment deployed by land managers is conservatively estimated at £3.1 million. At least 110 ATVs, fogging units, tractors, diggers, water bowsers and other assets were deployed.

Ross Ewing, director of Moorland at SLE, said: “The scale of these fires is unprecedented, and we commend all those who rushed to the scene, risking their own safety, to bring the fires under control. Without the involvement of gamekeepers and land managers the devastation caused could have been even worse.

“We are pleased to see the grant being made available from the Cairngorms National Park Authority to compensate rural businesses for damage to equipment. It is absolutely vital to replace damaged equipment in order to be ready for future wildfires, which are sadly becoming more common.

“Our report to the Scottish Government also highlighted gaps in Scottish Fire & Rescue Service’s capability to respond to wildfires. An integrated response is required to ensure we are making best use of the expertise and resources we have and to better prepare for future wildfires.”

Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: “We owe an incredible gratitude to the gamekeepers, land managers and all who worked with them to extinguish the wildfires at Dava and Carrbridge, which were still smouldering three weeks later when I met them on the hillside to survey the damage.

“I hope these grants will help repair the damage done to their machinery in getting the fires under control and demonstrate how they are recognised as absolutely vital in protecting our landscapes from fire. We will continue to work together to be sure we are better prepared for the growing threat of wildfires.”

Colin McClean, head of land management at the CNPA, said: “The wildfires earlier this summer had a huge impact on communities across the region. We are grateful to the hundreds of gamekeepers and land managers who helped fight fires on the ground, and to the estates who offered up their specialist equipment.

“This grant is to help with the costs of damage that occurred in helping bring the wildfires under control and sits within the wider context of our integrated wildfire management plan for the national park.”

The grants are purely to repair or replace equipment damaged during the containment effort. For more information on how to submit a claim, email ross.ewing@scottishlandandestates.co.uk.

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