Firefighters have returned to base having successfully extinguished a devastating wildfire at Daviot.
Fire crews worked tirelessly over the last seven days to bring the fire under control as helicopters water-bombed the flames from above.
At the height of the blaze, which broke out near Auchnahillin Holiday Park on Saturday, homeowners were evacuated after losing power.
Plumes of smoke could be seen for miles as the fire swept across heathland, south of Inverness.
The flames were visible from the A9.
Seven days on, fire crews have left the scene. The stop message was received shortly after midday.
The remnants of the fire-stricken area have been placed into the care of Forestry and Land Scotland.
Homes evacuated in the wake of Highland wildfire
Over the weekend, emergency services were on high alert as the flames edged close to nearby homes and buildings.
Preparations were put in place in case of a mass evacuation of Daviot Care Home on Saturday evening, with buses lined up nearby, however, these were later stood down.
Nearby properties were evacuated due to a mass power outage in the area.
Police later confirmed all homeowners had been allowed to return home.
A helicopter was used by the Forest and Land Scotland to inspect and assess the damage, while SSE staff inspected the charred poles.
As of Thursday, crews remain at the scene with two appliances monitoring the situation.
On Friday morning, one team was on the scene keeping watch.
As fire crews battled the wildfire, residents were being advised to stay indoors and keep all doors and windows closed to prevent inhaling smoke.
‘I was worried about the smoke’
For campers at Auchnahillin Holiday Park, their holiday took a drastic shift.
The Highland park was among scores of premises left without power as fire crews worked to contain the nearby wildfire.
Fearing for the health and well-being of campers on site due to the increasing levels of smoke in the area, owner Anita Gibson moved them into caravans for the evening.
Speaking to the BBC, she said: “We are so close, just underneath the hill, so the flames were not so visible for us but there was a lot of smoke.
“The helicopter was going overhead and dropping water up until about 11pm so it was fairly noisy. I moved some of our tent campers into caravans for the night as I was worried about the smoke.”
She added: “We know wildfires do occur but it’s not something we thought would happen on our doorstep. We are very grateful to the emergency services.”
Slightest spark can start wildfire
Last week, firefighters tackled a blaze at Cannich which was one of the largest fires ever seen in the UK.
Wildlife and ancient lands were killed and damaged in the fire, and fire crews from all over the Highlands and beyond attended the scene.
Station commander John Harvey said: “We know that many people will be hoping to enjoy the outdoors when the weather is good, but we urge everyone to make sure that they don’t increase the chance of wildfire. That means being aware of the risks and following the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
“Wild and grass fires can start by the careless disposal of cigarettes and barbecues or campfires left unattended.
“They then have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land, wildlife and threaten the welfare of nearby communities.”
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