During this week, firefighters have worked to control a wildfire in the Scottish Highlands which could be the largest ever recorded in the UK. With its centre near Cannich, the fire covered roughly 30 square miles, burning through both scrubland and woodland and being visible from space.
While the cause of the fire is still unclear, Forestry and Land Scotland believe the fire to be a result of wild camping. During periods of low rainfall, the environment of the Scottish Highlands becomes increasingly vulnerable to the spread of wildfires due to dry underbrush acting effectively as kindling. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Group Commander, Jamie Thrower, urged people to be careful when travelling and camping through the area, whose wildfire risk level had risen to “very high”.
Due to climate change, wildfires present a growing threat to Scotland’s rural areas. While small fires are expected to form each year, the size of wildfires has been increasing over the last decade. Even before the Cannich wildfire, the three largest blazes had all formed since 2019, including one in April 2023, which before Cannich was the second-largest wildfire ever recorded in the country. These fires most often affect the Highlands, which saw 360 fires between 2017 and 2022. However other rural communities in Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Perthshire are also affected by fires.
As Scottish summers get increasingly warmer and drier, the risk of wildfires will also grow. Due to this, those visiting areas vulnerable to wildfires must be aware of the safety precautions that should be taken to avoid losing control of a blaze. Vehicles should be kept off of dry grass, and campfires should be built in an open area far away from flammable material. In addition, when leaving a site, campfires should be dowsed until entirely cold, to ensure that embers or hot ash do not ignite nearby grass or wood. Following these guidelines is necessary to protect rural areas across Scotland throughout the summer.