Emergency services have brought a 12-day wildfire in Scotland's Cairngorms National Park under control.
Evacuated residents in Nethy Bridge have been allowed to return to their homes.
Authorities lifted a major incident declaration on July 25, 2026.
Fire Response and Progress
The blaze originated near Glenmore on July 15 and swept across approximately 2.3 square miles of heather and small trees.
Over 500 firefighters tackled the fire alongside specialist wildfire units, water-bombing helicopters, and local gamekeepers.
Changing winds had pushed flames toward populated areas, prompting temporary evacuation orders.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney confirmed the progress following a government resilience committee meeting.
He noted that emergency resources will remain deployed in the region until the fire is entirely extinguished.
“Ministers will continue to be updated on the fire and resources and services will remain until the fire is out,” Swinney said.
Swinney emphasized that the government was prioritizing the emergency response to ensure complete containment.
“This wildfire is being treated with the utmost seriousness and necessary resources will be in place until the last flames are out,” he said.
Emergency crews successfully constructed firebreaks to protect nearby villages.
“Efforts to tackle the wildfire in the Cairngorms are in their 10th day, and changeable weather conditions have presented a range of challenges for those on the ground.
I praise their resilience and tireless efforts to bring it under control,” Swinney said.
Swinney reiterated that officials will maintain full support for the area throughout the final stages of the response.
“With residents in Nethy Bridge now able to return to their homes, Police Scotland have lifted the major incident declaration,” he said.
He added a reminder regarding ongoing monitoring efforts across the national park.
“I want to stress, however, that the Scottish government, the emergency services and all relevant authorities will continue to treat this wildfire, as has been the case since its onset, with the utmost seriousness and necessary resources until the last flames are out,” Swinney said.
Community Impact and Safety
Police Scotland reported that substantial personnel remain on-site to assist local communities and monitor drifting smoke, which had reached as far as Aberdeen.
“Substantial resources from police and partners, including three helicopters today, are still being deployed to the area,” said Superintendent Judy Hill.
Police personnel successfully coordinated with multi-agency teams to stand down the immediate evacuation threat.
“Thanks to the efforts of fire crews, gamekeepers, contractors, partners and many others over the past 24 hours, there is no longer the immediate threat which prompted the evacuation of properties in Nethy Bridge,” Hill said.
Hill expressed gratitude to local communities for remaining cooperative during the displacement.
“We are grateful to the community for their support and understanding in what has been a period of concern and disruption,” she said.
The police superintendent highlighted the rapid weather shifts that forced the initial emergency response.
“The weather conditions experienced within the Cairngorms over the last 24 hours have added further complexities to this situation.
With evidence suggesting the fire is spreading towards Nethy Bridge, the decision has been taken to declare a major incident and evacuate residents as a precaution,” Hill said.
Police forces continue maintaining security cordons in restricted parts of the park.
“Additional police resources are being deployed to assist in contacting those who need to leave their properties and to maintain cordons around restricted areas while our fire service colleagues continue to tackle the wildfire,” Hill said.
Hill affirmed that partner agencies are committed to securing the area thoroughly.
“We understand this is a very concerning time for residents, businesses and visitors to the Cairngorms region.
Please be assured that the multi-agency response remains fully committed to bringing this incident to a safe conclusion as quickly as possible,” she said.
Fire service officials noted that prolonged dry weather combined with inaccessible terrain made aerial water-bombing essential to protecting the Caledonian forest ecosystem.
“Our firefighters, specialist resources and partners have worked tirelessly over the past nine days to respond to this challenging and complex wildfire incident,” said Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Barbour explained that environmental elements severely hampered ground firefighting tactics.
“The combination of prolonged dry conditions, strengthening winds and challenging terrain has created an extremely complex operational environment.
Large areas of the fire ground are inaccessible by vehicle or on foot, making helicopter water-bombing operations and specialist wildfire tactics essential to our response,” Barbour said.
He recognized the broad support received from land managers and local estate staff during the operations.
“Throughout this incident, partnership working has been fundamental.
I would like to thank Forestry and Land Scotland, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, landowners, estate gamekeepers and our emergency service partners, whose expertise, local knowledge and continued support have been invaluable in helping us protect communities and the natural environment,” Barbour said.
The fire service confirmed that massive resources had been rotated through the site since the start of the blaze.
“More than 500 firefighters have been mobilised since the incident began, supported by specialist wildfire appliances, all-terrain vehicles, helicopters and partner agencies.
We will continue to maintain a significant operational response for as long as it is required,” Barbour said.
Barbour re-emphasized public safety directives while active operations continue across the park terrain.
“We recognise this is an extremely worrying time for those affected, particularly residents who have been asked to leave their homes.
Public safety remains our absolute priority, and we ask everyone to continue following the advice of Police Scotland and to stay away from the affected areas while firefighting operations remain ongoing,” Barbour said.
Local residents described witnessing thick smoke and approaching flames before firebreaks were established.
“We could see the smoke rising and when the wind changed direction we could see the flames – it was pretty scary and felt pretty close although it was still a few kilometres away,” said resident Claire Montague.
Montague observed the vast scale of the fire during a brief return to her property.
“We could see lots of smoke today when we popped back home, masses coming from a very large area.
It is not contained by any means,” she said.
She reflected on the terrifying nature of the blaze compared to previous regional wildland fires.
“It was absolutely terrifying, nothing like I’ve felt before. The Dava Moor fire last summer was farther away from us,” Montague said.
Montague expressed relief at the emergency containment actions while lamenting the destruction of natural habitats.
“Thankfully they have managed to put in a firebreak,” she said.
She noted the environmental cost to the surrounding ancient forest land destroyed during firebreak construction.
“Where the fire started is the original area of the Caledonian forest, a desperately important ecosystem, which they were trying very hard to preserve and expand,” Montague said.
Montague voiced her sorrow regarding the heavy machinery intervention required across the landscape.
“The whole land had to be bulldozed for the firebreak, which is desperately sad,” she said.
Event organizers announced that the annual Abernethy Highland Games, scheduled for August 8, 2026, were canceled as the local community center continues to serve as an emergency response base.
“It is with great sadness and deep regret that given the ongoing wildfire and its response, the Abernethy Highland Games 2026 have today been cancelled,” event organizers said in a statement.
Public access restrictions remain active along popular trail networks, including routes around Glenmore, Loch Morlich, Badaguish, and Abernethy Forest.
Authorities advise nearby residents in Tomintoul to keep windows and doors closed against lingering smoke.
