GAMEKEEPERS have advised authorities not to rule out arson when investigating the recent Moray wildfire.

More than 50 local gamekeepers assisted fire crews over the four days it took to extinguish one of the biggest wildfires seen in Britain, which blazed over 23 square miles. The gamekeepers maintain that, had controlled muirburn not helped crews stop the flames at Knockando, they could have raged into the Cairngorms National Park.

Now, as affected land holdings count their losses, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead has promised an inquiry, the gamekeepers have spoken up to suggest that dismissing criminality as a possible origin of the fire was 'premature'.

“It appears criminality has been ruled out but someone or something definitely started the original fire in an area of rewilding on Pitchroy,” said gamekeeper, Dave Thomson. “The estate has been severely restricted for 10 years in the controlled muirburn they can do in that area. No heather burning has been allowed at all for three years, on ecologists’ advice, due to historic bird nesting sites in the wind farm. Once the fire started one of the main reasons for it getting away was the build-up of fuel load after ending the annual muirburn policy.

“When the fire re-started on April 22, it was then a much bigger job, spreading through Altyre, Knockando and onto Dunphail. No one has seen anything like it.”

Gamekeeper Allan Hodgson added: “If this wildfire had been as a result of muirburn on a grouse moor, there would have been a public outcry. Some within the conservation movement have already tried to make capital for their agenda to ban muirburn, which is really disappointing, but there were no RSPB employees or Scottish Raptor Study Group officials out helping fire crews, despite the risk to birds and historic nest sites.

“The truth is, if controlled muirburn had not been carried out in the area, creating firebreaks, it would have spread more extensively.”

Affected estates believe financial losses will amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds. One thousand acres of a native pinewood scheme was burnt out on Altyre and miles of deer and stock fencing knocked out at Knockando. Wind turbines were switched off at Pitchroy and two estates are set to lose walked up grouse shooting income for up to five years, with the birds’ heather habitat black.

Had the fire not been tamed, commercial forest plantations at Dallas were vulnerable, and back burning by a gamekeeper at Tomcork Farm helped protect a domestic property.

“There is a loss of wildlife,” said gamekeeper, Willie Smith. “These areas have species such as Mountain hares, meadow pipits, skylarks, Curlew, Lapwing and adders. There are also historic nesting sites for Hen Harrier and Merlin as well as black grouse lek sites. On one of the estates last year there were 22 Blackcock at a lek. Now there is a single male. The lek sites are gone.”

On one flank of the fire, 54 gamekeepers assisted, bringing 16 fogging units, eight leaf blowers, eight heather besoms and eight tractors with specialist equipment.

Heather management and cutting around Turbine Three at Berry Burn Windfarm provided a safe area for stranded fire crews, stopping them being enveloped.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has since announced its intention is to introduce back burning, a technique used by gamekeepers, to stop wildfires spreading.

“It is encouraging to see the fire service adopting this and we are keen to build on positive relationships with them,” said the chairman of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, Alex Hogg. “Thanks to investment by large grouse estates, a lot of specialist equipment and skill was able to be deployed, free of charge. The fire service themselves have admitted that, without that assistance, this fire would have been even worse.”