A reader has correctly pointed out a basic error in the first draft of this.
Media coverage of wildfires tends almost uniformly to blame supposedly irresponsible BBQ-users. The current Cairngorm wildfire is similarly explained despite taking place on fairly uninteresting moorland:
In this case, as the fire started on RSPB territory popular with walkers, the above explanations are more likely. However many wildfires cannot be so easily attributed.
A significant percentage, often those which start on grouse-shooting estates are caused by the estate practice of muirburn.
Muirburn? What is muirburn?
Also called heather burning or controlled burning, muirburn is a traditional Scottish land management practice that involves intentionally setting fire to areas of heather, grass, or moorland vegetation under controlled conditions. https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/outdoors/wildfires/controlled-burning-and-muirburn-for-land-managers/
The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) generally opposes intensive muirburn, particularly on peatlands and grouse moors, and actively campaigns for stricter regulation or bans. They view it as damaging to biodiversity, peat carbon stores, and long-term habitat health, while favouring restoration approaches instead. https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-we-do/influence-government-and-business/policies-and-briefings/moorland-peat-burning
Why might other wildfires have been caused by this rather than irresponsible individuals with portable BBQs?
A Scotland-wide analysis of Fire and Rescue Service reported that 60% of ‘primary’ wildfires from 2009/10 to 2014/15, were more likely to have been caused by muirburn. A study utilising data from ranger reports in the Peak District National Park spanning 1976 to 2004 found that 24% of those fires for which the cause was identified could be attributed to escaped burns. The muirburn cased, of course, tended to be larger resulting in 51% of the area affected by wildfires being due to this cause. https://www.nature.scot/doc/naturescot-research-report-1302-reviewing-assessing-and-critiquing-evidence-base-impacts-muirburn
The Cairngorms has a documented history of muirburn-related incidents. Past examples involved out-of-control grouse moor burning spreading to reserves or wider area.. https://raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/09/breaking-news-out-of-control-muirburn-on-grouse-moor-in-cairngorms-national-park/
The current Cairngorms fire started grouse moorland. https://partnershipplan.cairngorms.co.uk/nature/a7-fire-management/
There have been previous wildfires in the Cairngorms National Park (CNP) and immediate area attributed to escaped muirburn on grouse moors. https://parkswatchscotland.co.uk/2025/10/12/culblean-hill-playing-with-fire-in-the-cairngorms-national-park-and-the-politics-of-muirburn/
In October 2025, an out-of-control muirburn started on the Dinnet & Kinord Estate and spread into the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve. It occurred on the east side of the CNP during high fire risk conditions. Locals and reports described it as a rapidly spreading wildfire. This wasn’t the first such incident on Culblean Hill. https://raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/09/breaking-news-out-of-control-muirburn-on-grouse-moor-in-cairngorms-national-park/
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the area that the fire took place in is on a main route to the Munros around Loch Avon. It’s in a RSPB reserve and hasn’t been subject to muirburn for over 60 years that I have been visiting and walking in the area. I walked past it on Tuesday when I walked from Braemar on. On day and Tuesday. I had camped at Fords of Avon and it was very hot in the centre of the cairngorms at 8am. The area was bone dry and most streams were a trickle if they existed.
the cause of the fire could be anything from a carelessly discarded cigarette to a plastic or glass bottle magnifying the suns rays. Even a hot stone from a bicycle wheel dislodged from the path could have started things smouldering. There is/was no area away from a stream that is suitable to camp or have a BBQ because the ground isn’t flat. There are warnings everywhere of bans on open fires with £500 fines for people who ignore this.
really sad to see an area like this so badly damaged.
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You’re right.
Poor research on our part.
Will modify.
Thanks
john
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Crucially it’s not muirburn season, which negates the whole cut and thrust of your article, and as the poster above points out, the fire isn’t in an area that has muirburn as a practise.
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Muirburn does cause the majority of moorland fires and they do spread into nature reserves. The Scottish Government is introducing a licensing scheme to control it but has twice delayed introduction presumably after pressure from the ever powerful land and estates lobby.
Muirburn season is March/April so this latest fire has most likely been caused by other means. However, a better way of preventing fires would be designated BBQ pits in safe areas and public education on fire safety in the outdoors. This is how Scandinavian countries deal with the problem. Instead of curtailing our right to roam National Parks could enhance our knowledge and skills in outdoor education.
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From my childhood memory I recall organised muirburn as taking place earlier in the spring before the moorland birds started nesting but it might be different on grouse moors.
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