Firefighters check Kishorn blaze site as risk of further flare-ups deemed 'very high'

FIREFIGHTERS are still checking the scene of a fierce Wester Ross blaze today as the risk of further incidents across a large swathe of the country put at "very high".

A helicopter was called in yesterday to help tame the blaze at Kishorn which was first notified on Monday afternoon at around 4.20pm.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "The stop sign for this incident came in shortly after 9am on Wednesday morning, with the fire now extinguished.

"Officers will check back over the course of today to check the situation, and to ensure no other incidents occur."

At its height, around 50 firefighters from Inverness and Highland villages joined the effort through the night.

Having reached a front of eight kilometres in length overnight, the crews reduced the extent of the flames to three kilometres by lunchtime yesterday.

A chopper from Dalcross-based PDG helicopters was drafted in to assist the operation.

A cause for the blaze has not yet been given.

Worried residents also joined in the mass effort to contain the fire, while others posted social media pictures showing the hillside alight with flames.

Firefighters earlier urged the public to take extra care to prevent wildfires after April and May's dry weather left swathes of the Highlands at "very high risk".

The warning is expected to remain in place for today and tomorrow at least.

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