Firefighter photos reveal wildfire damage to Culbin forest

Photographs taken by firefighters reveal damage caused by a wildfire to parts of a large forest on the shores of the Moray Firth.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was alerted on Monday morning to the blaze in Culbin Forest – an important habitat to wildlife including red squirrels, badgers and dragonflies.

Dozens of firefighters, supported by a helicopter dropping water, tackled the flames which caused damage and destruction to a large area of pine trees and scrub.

SFRS said two fire engines were still at the scene near Forres.

Culbin Forest is an area of woods and farmland on the Moray Firth coast between Nairn, in the Highlands, and Burghead, in Moray.

The wildfire covered an area of about 2,500m (8,202ft) by 2,500m.

SFRS had urged the public to stay away from the affected area and asked nearby residents to keep windows of their homes closed because of the smoke.

More than 30 firefighters brought the fire under control on Tuesday.

The incident came during a long dry and warm spell of weather.

The SFRS defines wildfires as large, uncontrolled outdoor fires that can exceed 1,000 square metres in area.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages about eight miles (13km) of Culbin, and a network of paths through it.

An FLS spokesperson urged the public not to set fires in the forest.

Wildfires typically happen in places with combustible vegetation that acts as fuel and allows flames to spread rapidly.