Barra community praised

The Barra community has been praised for battling a series of wildfires at the weekend.

Retain firefighters on Barra worked through the night to bring the fires under control.

The fire crew at Barra Airport as well as coastguard and lifeboat personnel also turned out and were joined by many islanders.

David Farries - Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s deputy assistant chief officer responsible for the North of Scotland - said: “There was clearly a huge focus over the past week on firefighters across the country working through some of the most challenging weather conditions to reach people affected by heavy snowfall.

“But our crews in the north were working as equally hard over the weekend to control and extinguish a series of very significant fires out in the open, and across several locations.

“They worked effectively with partners to protect lives, properties and the environment – and they are an absolute credit to their communities and to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank them alongside our partners and colleagues at Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd for bringing these incidents to a safe conclusion.”

The blazes are thought to have started from people burning overgrown heather to allow fresh growth.

However, the fires got out of control and rapidly spread in the strong wind.

No rain had fallen on the island for nearly two weeks and the vegetation was tinder dry.

Barra community praised for tackling moorland blazes

7 March 2018