Scotland to Deploy Standby Helicopters for Elevated Wildfire Risk Periods

The Scottish government is to implement a new strategy for combating wildfires, ensuring helicopters are on standby when the risk of blazes is elevated. Justice Secretary Angela Constance confirmed the move, stating that aerial waterbombing capability proved crucial in tackling a recent large wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park.

Ms Constance indicated that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) would work with the Scottish government and other partners to identify and secure helicopter resources. This proactive deployment aims to improve response times and effectiveness, particularly in remote and challenging terrains where wildfires can spread rapidly and cause extensive damage.

The announcement comes as Scotland, like other European nations, experiences increasingly frequent and intense wildfires, a phenomenon often linked to climate change and drier conditions. Historically, such incidents have necessitated reactive deployments, but the new policy seeks to pre-position vital assets to minimise the scale and impact of future events.