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A828 reopens as wildfire burns near Oban

Residents are urged to keep windows shut after the "large" gorse fire broke out at North Connel.

Fire fighters battled the wildfire for 10 hours. Image:  Louise Glen/ DC Thomson
Fire fighters battled the wildfire for 10 hours. Image: Louise Glen/ DC Thomson

Traffic and travel were severely disrupted after a wildfire broke out at North Connel this afternoon.

Police, firefighters and the ambulance service were called to the area near Oban following an alert around 1.30pm.

Firefighters were battling the blaze for 10 hours and only left the scene at around 11pm.

The A85 was closed at Connel Bridge, with drivers urged by police to avoid the area and use an alternative route.

It also led to the closure of the A828, the road that goes over the famous bridge connecting Connel and Ledaig.

The A828 was closed for four hours and reopened around 7.20pm.

Emergency services are still at the scene, with fire fighters keeping flames from roads and thick smoke still in the air. still one crew

Dramatic images and footage taken by the Oban Airport fire crew show a large area of land covered in flames.

The major fire was reported after 1pm this afternoon. Image: Oban airport fire crew

There are around 150 homes in the area, with many owners being told to close their windows.

Some have been asked if they want to evacuate their homes while the situation is dealt with.

Our reporter at the scene said there is a smell of plastic in the air.

It comes as really warm day hits the west coast town today, with temperatures reaching 22 C.

Firefighters have been battling the fire for 10 hours. Image: Oban airport fire crew
Image taken from the now re-opened Connel Bridge, showing the smoke. Image: Louise Glen/ DC Thomson

A828 reopens at Connel Bridge following wildfire

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson confirmed: “We were alerted at 1.28pm to reports of a large fire in the open at North Connel.

“Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances to the scene, near the A828, where firefighters remain working to extinguish the fire which has taken hold of a large section of grass and gorse.

“There are no reported casualties.”

Firefighters battled the wildfire for more ten hours.

At 19:15, a SFRS spokeswoman confirmed all four appliances were still at the scene.

At 10:30pm, she said: “There is still one appliance at the scene but they should be leaving really soon.”

The A828 was closed to all traffic in both directions at North Ledaig and an alternative route via Tundrum was put into place.

Smoke is still billowing across the A828 making it dangerous to drive,

It is the main route for all traffic between Oban and Ballahullish and Fort William.

Traffic disrupted as wildfire tackled

Scottish CityLink said Oban to Fort William services have been delayed for up to 90 minutes.

The A828 was closed for four hours. Image: Louise Glen (above) and Oban airport fire crew (below)

It’s understood the smoke has also affected operations at nearby Oban Airport.

Cyclists on the cycle route to Fort William are being turned back by police.

Photos taken this afternoon showed the back road to Benderloch from the Bonawe Road – the only rural alternative road- packed with large numbers of vehicles including caravans and motorhomes using the route in both directions.