Highland MSP urges Scottish Government to take action on extreme wildfire risks
A Highland MSP has called for “immediate and coordinated action” after the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service issued its 13th wildfire warning of the year – the highest number ever recorded.
With “extreme” level wildfire risk covering vast areas of the Highlands including Caithness at the end of last week, Green MSP Ariane Burgess said: “This is not a freak weather event. It’s the new normal in a warming world.
“It is time that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is properly resourced so they can investigate and publicly report on the cause of all wildfires. Only then can we develop evidence-based strategies that reduce risk, protect communities, and safeguard the landscapes we all depend on.”
Last week’s alerts were among the first September wildfire warnings issued since 2020.
Following what landowners described as Scotland’s largest wildfire in history this summer, which scorched over 29,000 acres of land in Dava and Carrbridge, the Cairngorms National Park Authority announced a seasonal ban on campfires and barbecues from April to September, starting next year.
Ms Burgess welcomed the byelaw but stressed it should be part of a “whole-of-government response”.
“The Cairngorms fire ban is a vital step but it’s reactive,” she said. “We need proactive investment in wildfire prevention, community resilience, and ecological restoration. I’ve written to ministers, NatureScot, and the CNPA to ask what more can be done to protect our landscapes and communities before the next blaze breaks out.”
She emphasised the devastating consequences of wildfires on the environment and communities, stating: “We are seeing peatlands burn, ancient pinewoods destroyed, and communities choked by smoke. Every fire is a blow to our climate goals and a trauma for those living nearby.”
Ms Burgess is urging the Scottish Government to treat wildfire risk as a national emergency, and to accelerate climate adaptation measures across Scotland’s most vulnerable regions.
“Warnings are not enough. We need leadership, funding, and a clear plan to protect Scotland’s future.”