Scotland wildfire forces evacuation of Nethy Bridge

A major wildfire in Scotland's Cairngorms National Park has forced hundreds of people from their homes and prompted a large-scale emergency response as it continues to burn for a tenth day. Police Scotland declared a major incident on July 24, 2026, as shifting winds drove the fire toward the village of Nethy Bridge, leading to a precautionary evacuation of approximately 650 residents.

The blaze, which ignited near Glenmore on July 15, has scorched roughly six square kilometers of heather, woodland, and ecologically sensitive Caledonian pine forest. More than 500 firefighters have been deployed over the past ten days, supported by specialist wildfire units, all-terrain vehicles, helicopters conducting water-bombing operations, and heavy machinery from local estates. Despite these efforts, a significant flare-up on July 23 and 24, fueled by strong, dry winds, caused the fire to spread unpredictably, leading to the evacuation order for Nethy Bridge.

First Minister John Swinney, who chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government's Resilience Room on the night of July 24 and again on the morning of July 25, described the situation as very serious. He stated that while a change in wind...