31 May 2023 , 22:16
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A devastating wildfire which has burned through British countryside for four days is visible from space.
The inferno should serve as a warning about climate change, the Green Party said today.
The huge blaze at Cannich in the Highlands led to two firefighters being injured.
Satellite images from Nasa show the plume of smoke from the fire drifting towards the iconic Loch Ness on Monday amid clear skies, reports Daily Record.
Member of Scottish Parliament, Ariane Burgess, who represents the area, said: "My thoughts are first of all with the two firefighters who have been injured."
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The wildfire has burned through three square miles of countryside (Fort Augustus Fire Station)
Two firefighters were hurt when they were tackling the blaze (Fort Augustus Fire Station)She continued: "They and their colleagues risk life and limb for us, and we have to ensure that we afford them all the help and support they need in tackling these dreadful landscape-scale disasters.
"The Highlands and Islands are amazing landscapes which many of us are proud to be able to call home. They attract visitors from all over.
"But amid a worsening climate disaster this natural beauty brings very real dangers. Conditions are such that even the smallest of things can have a massive, massive impact.
"We only need to look at countries like France, Spain, Italy and Greece, or further afield to the likes of California, to see the devastation caused by wildfires and the impact it has on communities consumed and displaced by them."
Four fire engines and specialist resources remain on the scene to tackle the wildfire, with choppers water-bombing the area and the public warned not to walk dogs nearby.
The fire service was alerted to the blaze around midday on Sunday with nine appliances sent to the scene at its height.
Two firefighters injured in an accident in their all-terrain vehicle have been released from hospital after being airlifted from the scene on Tuesday morning.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said an investigation is ongoing into the incident.
Concerningly, the wildfire can be seen from space (Nasa worldview)It has also extended a wildfire warning across most of east, central and southern Scotland which has been in place since May 26 amid warm and dry conditions.
Firefighters have attended fires in the same area on four separate occasions since May 23.
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Scottish Fire and Rescue Service group commander Niall MacLennan said: "The ongoing incident at Cannich shows just how large these fires can become.
"A mixture of seasonal weather conditions combined with very dry and dead vegetation means there is a heightened risk of fires, which can be started by the careless disposal of cigarettes as well as barbecues or campfires left unattended.
"Many of our rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by these incidents, which can cause significant environmental and economic damage.
"Cannich has been a challenging incident and our crews are working tirelessly to tackle the fire and stop further spread.
"Extinguishing a fire on this scale requires a large amount of resources, including the use of helicopters to bolster our response. We will remain on scene until we make the area safe."