Cannich wildfire
The Cannich wildfire in the Scottish Highlands near the village of Cannich began on 28 May 2023 and burned for about two weeks. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service fought the fire with up to nine fire engines and a water‑bombing helicopter. The cause was under investigation. A NASA satellite detected a long plume of smoke drifting toward Loch Ness on 31 May.
At its height, the fire burned about 6 square miles (16 square kilometers) of scrub and woodland, revised from an earlier figure of 30 square miles. Fortunately, there were no deaths. Two firefighters were injured when their vehicle overturned on 30 May and were airlifted to hospital; they were discharged the next day.
The blaze caused significant damage to the RSPB Corrimony nature reserve, destroying hundreds of native trees and harming ground‑nesting birds by destroying eggs and chicks. Some fast‑moving animals survived, but others did not. The full impact on wildlife was still being assessed.
A very high wildfire warning for much of Scotland was extended to 5 June, and then again from 7 to 10 June, while Cannich fire was still active. Nearby, another wildfire broke out near Daviot on 11 June, and a fire in Dalshangan Forest near Carsphairn appeared on 15 June.
By October 2023, the RSPB said Corrimony was starting to recover, with an estimated full recovery in about 5–6 years. An emergency fundraising appeal had raised over £200,000, helping to replant trees, rebuild deer fencing, and improve future fire preparations. Barratt Homes and the conservation charity Trees for Life helped with restoration work, and site manager Simon McLaughlin noted that green shoots of recovery were already visible.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 13:08 (CET).