Flood alert for areas affected by large wildfires

Moray councillor Draeyk Van Der Horn took this image on Monday morning from the Cairngorms towards the wildfires

A flood alert has been issued for parts of the north of Scotland where firefighters have been battling large wildfires.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said six appliances were at an incident near Forres in Moray.

Crews have also been dealing with a fire near Carrbridge in the Highlands, and police said a number of local roads were closed as a precaution.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency's (Sepa) flood alert follows a forecast for heavy rain and it includes Findhorn, Nairn and Speyside.

Police Scotland said roads around Grantown-on-Spey in the Highlands were closed.

They were the B9007 from the junction at Duthil to Ferness, A939 from Grantown-on-Spey to Ferness and the A940 has been shut at Dava.

Also, the B9102 road from Grantown-on-Spey to Upper Knockando and Dallas, and snowgates at Carrbirdge.

Drifting smoke has been a problem.

SFRS said it was alerted to the fire near Forres at about 08:50.

A spokesperson said: "Due to strong winds, a significant plume of smoke is spreading into nearby residential areas.

"If you can see the smoke, please make sure your windows and doors are closed.

"Crews remain in attendance."

On Sunday police urged the public to avoid the Dava area and advised those living nearby to keep their windows and doors shut.

One witness, who tried to put the initial fire out, told BBC Scotland News it started south-east of Loch Allan.

They said the seat of the wildfire was a ring of stones where a camp fire had been lit and camping chairs had been abandoned.

'More destructive'

The Cairngorms National Park Authority said volunteers were assisting firefighters.

A spokesperson said: "The multiple wildfires that started over the weekend in Moray and Highland are still burning.

"Our thanks and praise go out to all the fire crews, estate staff, land managers, farmers and others from across the Cairngorms National Park and beyond who are working non-stop to get these devastating fires under control."

Moray Scottish Greens councillor Draeyk Van Der Horn photographed the wildfires from a summit in the Cairngorms earlier on Monday.

He said: "Wildfires in Scotland were once a rarity. Not anymore.

"Hotter, drier springs and summers - driven by the accelerating climate crisis - are turning our landscapes into tinderboxes.

"Fires are now more frequent, more intense, and more destructive. This is not a distant warning.

"Climate change is here, and Moray, and Scotland are on the frontline."