Highlands summit seeks action after devastating wildfires

Ministers and key rural organisations are meeting today in the Cairngorms National Park to confront the growing threat of wildfires in Scotland, after the country endured the largest wildfires in living memory, with 13 alerts this year and more than 200 incidents.

The Wildfire Summit, co-chaired by Scottish agriculture minister Jim Fairlie and community safety minister Siobhian Brown, follows a series of devastating blazes at Carrbridge and Dava in the Highlands in late June and July.

See also: Wildfires in Scotland raise concerns over future land policy

Burning through nearly 12,000ha, the fires destroyed vast areas of peatland, releasing stored carbon, and caused widespread wildlife loss, including ground-nesting birds such as curlews and grouse, their chicks, and hares.

“This is a chance for us to look at what worked, and what lessons we need to learn from what happened,” said Mr Fairlie.

“It took an astonishing effort across so many sites to tackle the wildfires we saw this year, and we are grateful to all those who helped.”

The summit gathers representatives from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), NatureScot and Scottish Land and Estates, as well as land managers and environmental groups to explore ways to improve resilience and reduce wildfire risk.

“This year Scotland has faced an unprecedented scale of wildfire risk,” said SFRS assistant chief officer Jon Henderson.

“Our crews have attended more than 200 wildfires across the country. Wildfires can burn for days, devastate land and wildlife, and threaten communities.”

The summit follows a Scottish government decision to delay new muirburn (controlled burning) licensing rules until autumn 2026, amid pressure from rural stakeholders.

While some ministers cite poorly conducted muirburn as a contributing factor, others argue it is a critical wildfire prevention tool.

Fire strategy

Ross Ewing, director of moorland at Scottish Land and Estates, called for an integrated fire management strategy.

“Wildfires are becoming more frequent in Scotland, posing a significant risk to our rarest native species and habitats.

“A strategy for fire management will help better protect landscapes, nature, property and communities,” he said.

More than 110 rural workers, primarily gamekeepers, were involved in tackling the Carrbridge-Dava fire, using £4m worth of private equipment.

“Tactical back-burning, a technique used by trained estate staff, was credited with containing the blaze.

Colin McClean, of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “This event provides an opportunity for critical conversations.

“We are putting in place clear, practical measures to reduce the risk of wildfire.”

A roundtable with MSPs will follow the summit and will be held after parliamentary recess to share findings and shape next steps in Scotland’s fire preparedness strategy.