Families flee inferno burning so fiercely it can be seen from space
A huge wildfire raging in the southwest of Scotland this weekend was burning so intensely it could be seen from space.
A huge wildfire raging in the southwest of Scotland this weekend was burning so intensely it could be seen from space.
Satellite images released by the Met Office showed how the blaze had engulfed a large part of Galloway Forest and the surrounding area.
The inferno broke out shortly before midnight on Friday at Glen Trool, near Newton Stewart, with fire crews continuing to battle the flames yesterday.
Four helicopters carrying ‘water bombs’ were deployed to try and douse the inferno after it spread to the neighbouring Loch Doon area of East Ayrshire.
They were also used to spot people who may have become trapped by the fire.
Yesterday Police Scotland renewed previous warnings for people to stay away from the Galloway Forest area and urged anyone camping nearby to leave.
A spokesman said: ‘Emergency services and partners are continuing to deal with a wildfire in Galloway which is also affecting the Loch Doon area of East Ayrshire.
‘Residents living nearby are advised to keep windows and doors closed.’
Met Office satellite picture taken on Saturday shows the wildfire in the Galloway Forest park, bottom left of picture
Aerial footage showing in a wildfire in the Galloway Hills by Skyhook Helicopters
One woman, Fernanda Marbrow, said she feared her two sons Bruce and Jack may have become trapped on Saturday by the flames while on a camping and fishing weekend.
In a social media post she said: ‘At 2.30am Dumfries police called to say their car had been found in a carpark in Galloway National Park and that sudden wild fires were now burning out of control, worsened by severe weather conditions.
‘There was no mobile signal in the area- all I could do from home was point the police in the direction of the general area “pin” I’d made Bruce send me before they set off.
‘What followed was four hours of searching, more worry than I think I’ve ever felt and a dramatic rescue by helicopter.
‘As they were airlifted to safety it became clear that the area around where their camp was completely engulfed by fire.
‘Heartfelt thanks to Dumfries and Galloway Police, HM Coastguard Prestwick Search and Rescue and everyone else involved. They have lost all of their gear and they’re exhausted and shell shocked but they’re home and they’re safe.’
With the spring sunshine expected to continue, a woman goes paddle boarding on Loch Morlich, in Aviemore
Retired Royal Navy engineer Ron Baird also posted a dramatic account of a rescue on his local Whithorn History Group Facebook page.
The 76-year-old said: ‘My brother was staying at Glenhead with his wife when they were woken by police banging on the door in the middle of the night.
‘He was not aware the flames were blazing right next to his property, with fire crews trying to batter them down.
‘It sounds as if they had a lucky escape.’
Members of the Galloway Mountain Rescue were used over the weekend as ‘spotters’ for any hillwalkers trapped by the flames.
The Galloway Forest blaze is the latest wildfire in Scotland following bone-dry conditions since the beginning of March. In the last 10 days, fires have broken out in Aberdeenshire, Inverness-shire, Stirlingshire and East Dunbartonshire.
The A835 was also closed yesterday close to Achiltibuie, near Ullapool, in Ross-shire after a wildfire broke out shortly before 10am.
Six crews from around the Highlands were tackling a wall of flames, reportedly stretching over three-miles.
Group Commander Garry Douglas of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it was important that people act responsibly when outdoors.
Friends Paula and Raquel enjoyed the rays at Portobello Beach - despite the cold wind
He added: ‘At this time of year in early spring, we typically have a large volume of dead, bone-dry vegetation across large areas of countryside.
‘This essentially acts as a fuel for fire.
‘There are currently vast areas that are tinder-dry and vulnerable, which provides all the ingredients for fire to take hold and spread.’
Yesterday the Met Office warned that the spell of warm weather, which has sparked the wildfires, is expected to continue with temperatures reaching 21C in some areas.
Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: ‘It’s looking dry and sunny pretty much for the next few days.
‘There are hints that by Friday morning, there could be some patchy, light rain with an increased risk of rain at the weekend.’
He added: ‘Otherwise we’ll see light wind with the direction changing to southerly, south-westerly on Thursday making it very pleasant indeed and on Friday we could see 20C or even 21C.’
Despite a cold start yesterday with temperatures plunging to -5C in some rural areas, a woman braved the freezing waters of Loch Morlich, in Aviemore, for a spot of paddle boarding, while friends Paula and Raquel sunned themselves on Portobello Beach.