Landowners and managers have been warned they could face prosecution following a spate of hill fires across the Scottish Highlands over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The fires are believed to have been caused by the legal practice of muirburning, which is carried out to renew pasture by burning off long grass and heather. However, the fire service is concerned that safety procedures are not being followed and have threatened to take action.
A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service reminded landowners of their responsibility to adhere to safe practices and warned of the consequences for those allowing fires to burn out of control.
“Potentially you could be prosecuted if the manner in which it is carried out is not compliant with the muirburn code, or is particularly dangerous,” he said.
Appliances have been called out to tackle a number of blazes, with the largest breaking out between Corpach and Banavie on Monday. Local residents described the scenes as the worst they could remember as a crew of 40 firefighters worked through the night to bring it under control.
Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, praised the efforts of the emergency services adding that it was miraculous that there was no significant loss of property.
“The spate of such fires recently across the highlands acts as a timely warning to us all,” he said.
Bill Clarke, the councillor for the area, added that he had never seen anything like it before as the wildfire blazed for several miles through thick heather and dead bracken. The scale of the blaze was such that three vehicles and around 15 firefighters remained at the scene long after the flames were subdued.
Muirburning is allowed in the Highlands between October 1 and April 15 and the emergency services will be watching closely to ensure landowners are not acting irresponsibly over the remaining fortnight of the season.
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