Inverness gamekeeper who was helping contain Highland and Moray wild fires earlier this week fears ‘someone will end up dead’
A gamekeeper who was helping contain wild fires earlier this week fears ‘someone will end up dead’.
Edward Jaundrell (34) is the head gamekeeper at Holme Rose and Nairnside Estate, near Inverness, and described the wild fires as an ‘eye-opener and a nightmare’.
After spending days and nights at the emergency, alongside 90 other gamekeepers from as far away as Perth, he is now raising questions as police and the fire service has launched a probe into what happened.
Mr Jaundrell said: “The size and the scale of the fire is the biggest I have seen. It is only going to get worse if things are not done to prevent them.
“Over the weekend I heard hares squealing to their death and many birds died.
“It’s scary and gamekeepers’ families don’t hear from us for days.”
Gamekeepers were able to use a method called ‘back-burning’ - or muirburn - which is when they use fire to fight fire.
By burning further ahead in a contained manner, the wildfire can go no further, as there is no fuel for it.
Gamekeepers also spend time doing controlled burning throughout the year to prevent any future wild fires growing in size.
However, new legislation from the Scottish Government from January 2026, will require a licence with strict rules for any burning.
Mr Jaundrell said: “There needs to be a relaxation of proposed regulations surrounding muirburn, which must make it easier to obtain a licence.
“We won’t be allowed to burn as much soon and that will impact the spread of wild fires.”
Not only would this prevent the spread of the wild fires, but Mr Jaundrell said that the increase in tree planting without fire breaks also made it extremely difficult for the team to navigate.
“We couldn’t get the fire out because of trees being planted over heather and moorland,” he said.
“The fire started up seven times on Saturday due to tree mounds.
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“People are flipping divots and planting trees with heather underneath, which is igniting all the time.
“We are then having to abuse the vehicles to access spots and someone could get trapped as there were no fire breaks. We had to cut fences and we had a mechanic with us on Sunday.”
While firefighters have been hailed for their response, Mr Jaundrell felt they need more support in terms of funding and resources.
He said: “There needs to be better resourcing of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) with all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), fogging units and water bowsers to ensure frontline crews are properly equipped.
“There needs to be expanded training for firefighters in techniques such as backburning and firebreak creation.
“While some training has begun, there is a need to roll this out more widely and urgently.
“Gamekeepers were on the frontline of this fire, with SFRS supporting with water replenishment and co-ordinating. Firefighters need to be trained to work at the coal face.
“There needs to be a review of aerial firefighting capability, with serious consideration given to the establishment of a dedicated SFRS helicopter to enable quicker mobilisation of support to improve containment efforts.
“There needs to be government funding for wild fire danger rating assessments, which are essential for understanding risk and preventing similar events in the future.”
The bleak reality of the situation is that more dangerous wild fires will occur in the future if funding and prevention are not put in place.
“If we are not careful, someone will lose their life if we don’t get more funding,” Mr Jaundrell said.
“The wildlife we have lost is devastating. These are all things gamekeepers want to prevent.
“We don’t want to see a wild fire in our estates but the way regulation is coming into effect, you are going to see that.
“It could take 10 years of recovery after a wild fire and we haven’t got a population of wildlife to come in.
“It is absolutely devastating and honestly brings a tear to my eye. Keepers are passionate about the land and when it is your hill burning your world is at an end.
“If we are not granted muirburn licences, then we are going to lose a big wildlife battle. It will be a barren land.”
Police Chief Inspector Mike MacKenzie, local area commander, said: “Fortunately no one has been injured but a large swathe of the countryside has been badly affected. I would like to thank all the emergency services and the public involved.
“Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and this includes the area around Lochindorb between Carrbridge and Dava and the area around Loch Allan near Dava.
“We are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious or has any information that could assist with the investigation to get in touch.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Agriculture and Connectivity Minister Jim Fairlie said: “Keepers have been a massive help to the SFRS in bringing these recent and other wildfires under control and estates often use their own equipment to help in those efforts.
“That practical help and experience is greatly appreciated by the Scottish Government, as are the views of the wider stakeholder groups who helped to inform our policy decisions as we progressed the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill.
“During the passage of that Bill we understood and recognised the importance of muirburn in creating firebreaks to help tackle wildfires and the new muirburn licensing scheme allows muirburn for that purpose. It also ensures people are trained to the highest standards and is undertaken appropriately to minimise the negative impacts on peatlands wildlife and other sensitive habitats.
“We fully understand the concerns about wildfires and have been in continual and close contact with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and other responders as we continue to carefully monitor the situation.
“I have also been in contact with Scottish Land and Estates and NFU Scotland to see what practical help was needed at the height of the fire.
“The Scottish Government is working with SFRS to support full implementation of its wildfire strategy, which will see the continued roll-out this year of new equipment, vehicles and Personal Protective Equipment.
“SFRS is fully prepared to deal with outbreaks and we are grateful to them, other first responders and everyone else who helped, for their ongoing efforts to keep people and property safe.”
Scottish Fire and Rescue Services has been contacted for comment.
