Moray-based MSP makes mad dash to pick up new pup from path of advancing wildfires
Plucking a puppy to safety from an advancing wildfire is not every person’s first experience of their new pet, but that was the lot of a local MSP recently.
On Monday, June 30, a wildfire at Dava was joined by others at Alves, Dallas and Knockando as a perfect storm of strong winds and tinder dry vegetation saw firefighters and volunteers do battle to contain the raging blazes.
The day started out as pretty much business as usual for Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross as he and his family made their way to Alves to a pet and play farm to celebrate his younger son James’s fourth birthday. However, the day was to take a very unexpected turn.
He said: “We lost our family dog, Murphy, three years ago and recently we decided to get another.
“On Monday, while we were at the pet and play farm for James’s birthday, we got a frantic call from the breeder we were getting Monty from to come and get him as soon as possible.
“We had been due to pick him up on the Tuesday but the breeder explained that his farm had been placed under notice that they might have to be evacuated due to the wildfires. He was tearing his hair out working out how get all of his dogs safe. As we lived relatively close by it made sense for us to come over and pick Monty up.”
A mad dash from Alves to Logie ensued, with a stop-off in Forres to drop off kids James and Alistair at Douglas’s parents before getting their Dalmatian pup to safety.
He added: “When we got there you could see how dangerous the situation could have become.
“There was a fire engine sitting in the road to the farm as the fire service assessed the situation nearby.”
While Monday evening was to prove a tipping point for the firefighters as a downpour during the night dampened down both the ground and the fire itself it was, nevertheless, a “strange day” for Douglas.
He continued: “Monday was a very strange day with the smoke and ash turning the sky a weird colour, it was doom-laden, almost.
“We’ve got goats and chicken at home and the animals were unsettled all day.
“We also had to explain to the boys why it was so dark.
“At the pet and play farm we were outside at first and you could see the sky getting darker and darker. We went inside after that and once we came out again there was a strong smell of smoke in the air. The sky looked like it was early evening when in fact it was only around midday.
“Everyone was so grateful when the downpour came and it aided the heroic efforts of all those fighting the fires.”
The scale of the fires saw constituents from across a wide area reach out to Douglas’s office for information and reassurance. Among the issues raised were fears that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) were not getting enough support, questions as to why water-bombing helicopters had not been deployed and why the Scottish Government’s emergency Resilience Committee had not been activated sooner. Others, meanwhile, were worried about the effects of breathing the smoke and ash swirling about in the atmosphere.
Douglas added: “We were able to reinforce the messaging from the police, SFRS and other agencies and to try and reassure people.
“Many were worried about the scale of the fires and whether their own homes would be threatened.
“I even had one constituent from Lossiemouth get in touch to say that she was getting ash on her windowsills despite Dava being quite a distance away. I think that shows you just how much smoke and ash was coming off the fires and the strength of the wind blowing it.”
Paying tribute to all those who played a part in bringing the wildfires under control, he said: “The SFRS and volunteers who fought the fires worked incredibly long shifts in arduous conditions to stop the fires from spreading and bring them under control.
“We all owe them a debt of gratitude.
“When new wildfires broke out away from Dava there were fears that resources might be stretched, but fortunately this proved not to be the case.”
