Two firefighters injured in crash at Cannich wildfire

Two firefighters have been injured after their vehicle overturned at the site of a wildfire in the Highlands.

One of the casualties was airlifted to hospital in Inverness and the other to Aberdeen following the accident near Cannich, south of Inverness.

It is understood the firefighters were travelling in an all-terrain vehicle when the accident happened.

They are both in a stable condition and are expected to be discharged from hospital shortly.

Firefighters from stations across the Highlands have been tackling the blaze on a large area of scrubland and forestry since Thursday.

A helicopter has been used to waterbomb the flames, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it had requested additional helicopters to help out.

Forestry and Land Scotland, one of the landowners, said it suspected the fire was linked to wild camping in the area.

Emergency services were alerted to the injured firefighters just after 09:00 on Tuesday.

Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) said the accident had involved an overturned vehicle.

SCAA flew a critical care team from Aberdeen to the scene, before airlifting one of the casualties to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

The other firefighter was accompanied by a specialist team in a flight by a coastguard search and rescue helicopter to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

The Scottish Ambulance Service said it sent multiple resources to the scene.

Thirty firefighters remain at the scene of the blaze in a large area of scrubland and forestry.

SFRS, Police Scotland and NHS Highland have urged people who live nearby to keep doors and windows closed because of the smoke.

The fire service said the fire could burn for several days longer.

Landowners including FLS and RSPB Scotland have been helping with work to control the spread of the fire.

SFRS has been warning since last week that the risk of wildfire in parts of Scotland was "very high", amid warm, dry conditions.

Forestry Land Scotland (FLS), the government agency which manages forests and land, said the cause of the Cannich fire was associated with wild camping.

It said there had been a similar incident in Tentsmuir Forest in Fife last Thursday, when a campfire started a wildfire.

FLS north region manager Alex MacLeod, said: "Many people are enjoying being out in the countryside to enjoy the hot weather but the lack of rain recently has made much of the countryside tinder-box dry.

"Camping stoves are clearly recommended as being a better option than campfires but when the weather has been as hot as it has, and the ground is as dry as it is, neither are advisable.

"Regardless of how it started, this particular incident is a sobering reminder of how easily and quickly a wildfire can take hold and become a major problem."