Wildfires in Highland and Moray areas spark ‘close windows’ plea from Police Scotland officers

Residents in the Forres and Elgin areas have been urged to keep their windows and doors closed amid smoke from ongoing wildfires raging in the Carrbridge and Dava areas.

The huge wildfires, which broke out at the weekend, have stretched the brave fire crews in the region - with firefighters from other parts of Scotland and local gamekeepers joining the fight to extinguish the flames.

The fires come amid an ongoing dry spell and strong winds, although rain is being predicted to fall in parts of the region on Monday.

However, satellite data shows numerous fires continuing to rage, with NASA’s Fire Information and Resource Management System (Firms) detecting numerous hot spots in the last one to three hours.

And in the early hours of Monday morning, Police Scotland issued further advice to residents, adding people living in the Forres and Elgin areas to ongoing requests for residents to keep their windows and doors closed.

In an update issued at 1am, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police Scotland and other emergency services are still in attendance with the fires in the Carrbridge and Dava areas.

“Roads remain closed and the public are advised to avoid the areas.

“Further advice is requested for residents in the Forres and Elgin areas to keep windows and doors closed due to the smoke.”