Residents' fury over Cairngorms wildfire evacuation orders as dozens of firefighters remain after blaze declared major incident

Published: 10:13, 26 July 2026 | Updated: 10:20, 26 July 2026 Residents have said they were left 'upset, angry and frustrated' about evacuation orders from a Highland village amid the Cairngorms wildfire. More than 500 firefighters have been tackling the blaze, which has now been burning for 11 days, alongside helicopter water-bombers. Scottish First Minister John Swinney said the fire, which has affected 600 hectares of land, was still a 'major and serious' threat but that there was an 'improved picture' on Saturday afternoon. On Friday Police Scotland declared a major incident and ordered some residents in the Cairngorms village of Nethy Bridge to evacuate. But residents have since been allowed to return home. Sandy McCook, chairman of the Nethy Bridge and Vicinity Community Council, said residents felt 'completely let down by the Scottish government', who he said had 'dithered'. 'The village is a very sombre place at the moment, with everybody still on edge. Everybody is still worried. There have been tears of despair, tears of anger, tears of frustration in the village.' He described the smoke this week as 'apocalyptic' and said the fire was 'not controlled in any way, shape or form', days after authorities in Holyrood said it had been contained. A wildfire continued to burn in the Cairngorms on Saturday as an evacuation order issued the previous day was lifted More than 500 firefighters have been called to tackle the blaze alongside helicopter water-bombers But Sandy McCook, chairman of the Nethy Bridge and Vicinity Community Council, said residents felt 'completely let down' by the Scottish government Mr McCook also said too many decisions over the fire's handling had been 'taken from Edinburgh' while others criticised the time taken to declare the blaze a major incident. Resident John McGlinchey said the evacuation was 'just not organised properly' and others said there had not been enough communication from the government. Emergency services previously said significantly changed weather conditions, including stronger winds, had contributed to the fire's unpredictable course. Mr McCook said the smoke had changed direction and was blowing towards Aberdeenshire and the North Sea on Saturday. Scottish justice secretary Neil Gray said: 'We've had helicopters available throughout the course of this week. Of course we keep under review our response to the ever-growing threat of wildfires and having aerial support is part of that tactical response.' On Saturday night Police Scotland Superintendent Judy Hill said the 'immediate threat' which had prompted the evacuation orders had been addressed. She added significant resources and volunteers were continuing to work in 'challenging circumstances to extinguish the fires'. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said the same evening that 75 firefighters remained on the ground tackling the flames near Nethy Bridge. On Saturday morning police said residents in the affected areas and those impacted by smoke, including Aberdeenshire and Moray, were advised to keep all windows and doors closed.