Does Scotland have the 'game changer' helicopters it needs to fight wildfires?
A large wildfire in Scotland's Cairngorms National Park has raised questions about the availability of aerial firefighting resources. While the fire is being managed, there is public frustration regarding the delay in deploying specialist helicopters.
Why it matters
The incident highlights potential gaps in emergency response infrastructure and the complexities of private-public resource coordination during climate-related disasters.
Image caption, Firefighters can direct specialist helicopters to drop a tonne of water to help extinguish fires
A devastating wildfire burning in the Cairngorms has entered its seventh day, as helicopters battle to stop the spread of the flames.
Two specialist helicopters have been "invaluable" for waterbombing hard-to-reach areas, the Cairngorms National Park Authority says.
But the flames were allowed to torch the landscape for nearly two days before they arrived on the scene around Glenmore Forest Park.
There's been vocal frustration from some local people, who believe the wildfire might have been brought under control if specialist air support had been called in sooner.
Why the delay? Do Scotland's firefighters have the aerial resources they need to tackle the growing threat of wildfires?
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