Caithness residents smell smoky fumes from wildfire blaze 100 miles south
Caithness residents woke up today to a strong smell of smoke that appears to be coming from the ongoing wildfires over 100 miles south in the Strathspey area.
People at Westfield, Thurso, Watten and Keiss noticed the distinct fragrance of burning moorland last night and early this morning as prevailing winds blew the smoke north. A woman many miles north in Shetland also reported the smell.
“I live in Watten and noticed the smell yesterday afternoon and this morning,” said one Watten resident.
A woman living in Keiss said she could see a smoky haze emanating from the other side of the Moray Firth behind some of the windfarm turbines.
A Bower resident noticed the smell around 4.30am today and said he checked in case it was a fire near his property. A woman in Westfield said she also checked around her house in case there was a wildfire in the vicinity.
A Thurso woman said: “I was up ridiculously early this morning and my bathroom smelled like something was burning. When I couldn't find the source, I just went back to bed. Wildfires are grim but I'm a little glad my house wasn't on fire.
In an update issued at 1am today (June 30), a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police Scotland and other emergency services are still in attendance with the fires in the Carrbridge and Dava areas.
“Roads remain closed and the public are advised to avoid the areas.
“Further advice is requested for residents in the Forres and Elgin areas to keep windows and doors closed due to the smoke.”
The huge wildfires, which broke out at the weekend, have stretched the fire crews in the region, with personnel from other parts of Scotland and local gamekeepers joining the fight to extinguish the flames.
The fires come amid an ongoing dry spell and strong winds, although rain is being predicted to fall in parts of the region today (June 30).
However, satellite data shows numerous fires continuing to rage, with NASA’s Fire Information and Resource Management System (Firms) detecting numerous hot spots in the last one to three hours.
Caithness experienced its own wildfire issues back in April when a moorland blaze erupted on the outskirts of Thurso.
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