Villagers in Nethy Bridge have received clearance to return to their homes following a mandatory evacuation that took place on Friday night due to the ongoing wildfire in the Cairngorms. Police Scotland has officially stood down the major incident designation after determining that the risk to the public has subsided.
First Minister John Swinney emphasized that authorities remain fully committed to extinguishing the blaze completely. Despite this, some community members have voiced frustration, alleging that the government failed to communicate effectively and acted too slowly in declaring the event a major incident.
Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour explained that the decision to downgrade the incident followed the successful construction of fire breaks, which mitigated threats to nearby communities. Superintendent Judy Hill noted that while residents can return, 75 firefighters will remain on-site to address remaining hotspots. The fire, which began near Glenmore last Wednesday, at one point spanned six square kilometers and required the efforts of over 500 personnel.
