UPDATE: SSEN confirm cause behind raging Assynt wildfire
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SSEN has confirmed what caused the wildfire which engulfed more than five miles of Assynt land yesterday afternoon (January 28).
The incident that sparked the wildfire in Glencanisp yesterday spread across more than five miles of land due to strong western gales.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said units from Ullapool and Lairg were sent to the scene with a total of three appliances attending. It's understood they left the area by around 5pm.
It is also thought that police from Ullapool and Gairloch were present.
- WATCH: Assynt wildfire 'freak accident' engulfed five miles of land
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According to SSEN, shortly before 3:30pm yesterday, gale force winds brought down one of the overhead lines near Lochinver. Given the warm temperatures and high winds at the time, the ground was very dry and the nearby gorse ignited shortly after coming into contact with the line.
As soon as SSEN was made aware of the fault, a team of engineers was despatched. By the time they arrived on site, the local fire service had extinguished the fire, making it safe to carry out all of the necessary repairs.
Supplies to all of the 157 properties affected by the fault were restored by 8pm.
A spokesperson from SSEN Distribution said: “We would like to thank customers in and around Lochinver for their patience yesterday as our teams worked hard to restore supplies after gale force winds brought down one of the overhead lines.”
Yesterday, there were multiple reports of fierce gusts across Ross-shire and a number of trees down from the Black Isle to Mid and Wester Ross. One reader reported "crazy gale force winds" in Invergordon and another "massive gusts" in the Dingwall area. Others reported stormy conditions in Bonar Bridge, Portmahomack and Lochinver.
