RSPB praise for firefighters as Melvich blaze is under control
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RSPB staff at Forsinard have praised both the fire service and local gamekeepers in helping to beat back the wildfire that broke out in the Melvich area more than a week ago.
Smoke has been seen billowing out from the area for a number of days with firefighters working around the clock to put the blaze out.
At one point it came close to encroaching upon the village of Melvich itself only for fire crews to beat the flames back.
Forsinard has been under threat as well, including the RSPB nature reserve there.
A spokesperson for the RSPB said: "There has been an enormous collaborative effort to help fight the wildfire that has damaged a significant area of Sutherland between Melvich and Strathy.
"The fire has tragically burned through approximately 25 square kilometres of managed estates bordering RSPB Scotland's Forsinard reserve.
"Last week it was encroaching our land but the combined efforts of the fire services, neighbouring gamekeepers at Bigmore and Strathmore estates, together with RSPB Scotland reserve staff and other RSPB staff from Abernethy in Strathspey, now appear to have brought it under control.
"This has been a great example of co-operative community working to help common interests across a vast area with great communication between all involved on an hourly basis.
"We are very grateful to the fire services, staff on neighbouring estates and Skyhook Helicopters who provided invaluable expertise with managing the fire – all of whom have pulled together to work for the wider public interest."
The fire now appears to have been put out after firefighters worked tirelessly for close to 10 days to combat it.
A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was first mobilised to the scene at Melvich at 10.12pm on Sunday, May 12.
"At its height, more than 12 fire appliances and a helicopter were in attendance.
"Crews tackled a number of hot-spots across a large area, while helicopter water-bombing assisted in controlling and containing the fire.
"Crews have now left the scene. However, we will continue to monitor for any re-ignitions and we would ask members of the public to take care in the area and remain vigilant."
Aside from the RSPB reserve, many residents and businesses in the area have spoken of how the blaze affected them.
Local resident and artist Alex Patience described what she experienced.
Speaking at the end of last week, she said: "The fire service crews have been excellent in their efforts to control the fire and ensuring that residents of the village are safe.
"I'm on the village hall committee and we were all too willing to open up the hall and put on food and drink for the firefighters, given how long they've been working in dealing with the fire.
"On a personal level, you are very conscious of it. When you wake up, you immediately see the sky heavy with smoke.
"I've not considered evacuation as my cottage is close to the sea but I am concerned for those living closer to where the fire is taking place.
"With all the smoke in the atmosphere I can feel it affecting my voice. I sing with the Melvich Gaelic Choir and the other singers have said they've felt their voices being affected by the smoke as well."
A member of the team at the Melvich Hotel said that although the fire had been a concern it had not affected business.
The person said: "Some guests have been concerned.
"It is very upsetting to see the destruction that has been caused by the fire.
"The workload of the fire crews has been on insane levels and they have been brilliant in dealing with the fire.
"Things have calmed down a great deal thanks to their hard work. The weather is has been helping as it's a lot cooler than it has been.
"As for hotel business, people are still coming, although the took longer to arrive the other day with the road diversions in place.
"The helicopter crew that has been working with the fire service have been staying here and I think that the other guests are reassured to see the helicopter itself nearby."
A B&B owner in the area affected from the fire said some of her guests had been "quite distressed" and unsure about staying overnight at Strathy Point.
Patsy Macaskill, who runs Sharvedda, explained that she had first became aware of the fire when she smelt the smoke while ironing in the house on the first Sunday. She said: "There was concern for ourselves – we were just encircled here with the smoke.”
She added: "I had guests due to book in the other day, two couples. One of the couples were booked for two nights. They were quite distressed and did not want to stay because of the smoke."
The couple were among the many caught up in thick smoke as they waited for a convoy system at the roadblock areas.
Mrs Macaskill said that the Swiss couple did decide to stay the night and in the morning everything was fine as the wind had changed direction, which enabled them to continue with their sightseeing plans in Caithness before returning to the Strathy Point B&B.
The B&B owner added: "We are in such a lovely area but with the smoke you could not see anything. It is frustrating for the visitors on holiday."
Crews from Thurso, Wick, Dunbeath, Kinlochbervie and Tongue were among those at the scene, with command support from Inverness.
The fire came close to the turbines of the Strathy North wind farm.
