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Firefighters, Brodick Castle Ranger Centre staff and Arran Mountain Rescue Team spent several hours tackling a huge hill fire last week above Corrie.
All the island’s fire tenders — Lamlash, Blackwaterfoot, Lochranza and Brodick — were called out after the alarm was raised at 3.12pm last Thursday, May 8.
Firefighters arrived to find the area well alight and at its peak the fire was one mile in length. In all, a half-kilometre of grass and heath was destroyed.
The fire is thought to have begun near the Corrie Enclosure where ranger centre staff look after trees which have been growing for 14 years. Many of the original trees were damaged and will have to be replaced, head ranger Kate Sampson said. The fence surrounding the enclosure was also damaged and will have to be renewed.
The fire then spread from the White Water (the Corrie burn) up along a ridge to the slopes of Am Binnein. It was finally put out about 8.30pm and fire personnel were told to stand down at 9.19pm.
Kate praised the work of the mountain rescue team, led by Jamie McKinnon, and the 25 or so fire personnel who worked to put out the fire. Five rangers including Kate also took part in the operation to stamp out the flames.
Jamie used a snowcat type vehicle to implement special equipment brought on to the island for such occasions as a moorland fire. It acts as a sprayer and sits on top of the vehicle and is very effective in flatter areas, Kate said.
Fire service personnel managed to beat the fire on the slopes away from nearby forestry blocks to prevent them catching alight.
The area is a habitat for small wildlife and meadow pipits were nesting there as well. It was believed some meadow pipits’ nests were destroyed.
Jamie McKinnon was not available for comment. However, a Strathclyde Fire Brigade spokesman confirmed the fire was approximately one mile in length.
Brodick and Lamlash appliances were at the scene on Friday for a considerable time in case fire broke out again, he said.
‘The beaters left the hill at 8.15pm due to bad light and most of the fire was extinguished by then. By 9.19pm it was under control and the incident was reported to be finished.
‘The fire was a considerable distance from the road.’
Access to Goatfell from Corrie was unaffected by the fire and this weekend’s Goatfell Hill Race will also not be affected.
• A 19-year-old Ardrossan man has been charged by police with culpable and reckless conduct and various offences under the Wildlife Act including causing damage to bird breeding grounds. A report has been sent to the procurator fiscal.
