After the Wildfire on Iconic Stac Pollaidh – Its Time to Tackle the Myths

Local Ranger Jenny discusses the high profile wildfire on Stac Pollaidh and asks if this is the wake-up call for the Highlands

The fire’s out on Stac Pollaidh. It raged for two days in early April across the slopes of this much-loved hill in Coigach. It started after a long, dry spell – we’ve had very little rain – and in those conditions, everything was like tinder. Without the efforts of the fire service and others, it could still be burning.

Smoke and Fire on Stac Pollaidh. Photo: Tim Hamlet Assynt Mountain Rescue Team

Even now, we’re still under a “High Fire Risk” warning, and as I write this, crews are tackling another large fire over on Skye.

First of all, huge respect to the people who fought this fire. The ground is tough going at the best of times, and they worked in hot, dry, difficult conditions to get it under control. It must have been exhausting.

Drone footage and photos by Tim Hamlet from the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team show the full scale of the damage. He used his drone to help identify where the fire was still active, but in doing so created an important record of what’s been lost. It’s frightening to think how close this came to spreading into older, ecologically valuable woodland.

We’ve been lucky…this time.

If there’s one positive to come from this, it might be that the beauty and popularity of this corner of Wester Ross has shone a spotlight on a growing issue in the Highlands.

Challenging Assumptions

No Fire Isn’t Natural Here, and Yes It Can Burn

There are two widespread assumptions I hear regularly: first, that wildfires are somehow natural in Scotland and second, that they’re unlikely here at all because it's "too wet."

Neither is true.

Wildfires in Scotland are rarely natural. In places like Australia or the American West, natural phenomena such as a lightning strike will often spark fires. But here in the Scottish Highlands, lightning is relatively rare. Most wildfires are started by people - most of the time unintentionally, but almost always avoidably. A discarded cigarette, a bit of glass catching the sun, a campfire, or a disposable barbecue can be all it takes.

The recent fire at Stac Pollaidh is thought to have started from a barbecue at the walker’s car park. That’s not natural, it’s a reminder of how small actions can lead to major consequences.

Scale of the fire Photo: Tim Hamlet -Assynt Mountain Rescue Team

And while many people assume this landscape is too wet to burn, that’s no longer the case. We often have long, dry spells in spring, and last year’s dead vegetation; dry, brittle and layered across the ground, creates ideal conditions for a wildfire.

Even on a soggy walk in the rain, I find myself explaining to visitors how and why wildfires remain a real and increasing threat.

Molinia caerulea Photo Jenny Grant

A Side Note on Fuel: Molinia and Fire Risk

One of the main fuels that allows wildfires to spread so rapidly in the Highlands is Molinia – (Molinia caerulea) or purple moor grass. It’s a native species, common across wetter ground and peatlands. During the growing season, it’s lush and green, but by autumn it dies back into thick mats of dry, straw-like material.

Desiduous Purple moor grass- Photo: Jenny Grant

By spring, before new growth starts, this old vegetation becomes brittle and highly flammable. In dry weather, it can ignite easily and burn with alarming speed, acting like a fuse across the hills. It’s a major reason why wildfires can take hold so quickly – even in places many people assume are too wet to burn.

So….what’s the problem if the land burns?

Someone said to me this week, “It was only scrub, wasn’t it?”, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

This fire was a stark reminder that the Highlands are being affected by climate change. We’re seeing more frequent and intense wildfires, just like those happening in places like California or Australia.

Wildfire can be devastating for wildlife, especially in the spring, when everything is coming to life. Birds are nesting on the ground or in low shrubs. Mammals are giving birth or rearing young. Amphibians like frogs and toads are making their way back to ponds or have only just laid eggs. Lizards and adders, still cold-blooded from winter, often bask in sunny vegetation…the very spots that are first to burn!

Some animals, like deer and foxes, may outrun a fire if the conditions allow. But for smaller, slower creatures, the voles, shrews, frogs, newts, and young birds in nests, escape is far less likely. Many die from the heat and smoke, and those that do survive may find their shelter and food are gone and they are then facing a more prolonged demise.

Scale of the fire. Photo: Tim Hamlet - Assynt Mountain Rescue

Fire doesn’t just clear a patch it can wipe out an entire mosaic of microhabitats. That includes everything from ant colonies and beetle burrows to lichen-covered rocks and mossy hollows. And full recovery, especially in a harsh Highland climate, can unfortunately take years.

Trees that take decades to grow (such as the Wych Elms from Andy’s previous blog: here) can be scorched in minutes. Peat soils, if ignited, release enormous amounts of carbon and are almost impossible to fully extinguish, with a cost to the global climate as well as the local landscape.

So, yes there is a problem if the land burns.

What Happens to Wildlife After the Fire?

Once a wildfire is extinguished, the visible drama fades but for wildlife, the struggle continues.

Some animals do return, but recovery depends on the scale of the fire, the type of habitat lost, and the time of year it happened. If the area was small and surrounded by unburnt ground, birds and mammals might move back in fairly quickly. But if the fire was widespread, or hit during spring or early summer, it can take much longer for nature to bounce back.

For ground-nesting birds like meadow pipits or skylarks, a fire in April or May can mean the complete loss of that year’s breeding attempt. Amphibians that didn’t make it to water in time or whose ponds were affected by ash and debris may also miss an entire reproductive season.

Insects are particularly vulnerable. Many species of moth, butterfly, beetle, and bee depend on very specific plants or nesting conditions. When those go up in smoke, the insects go with them and they may not return unless the exact conditions re-establish.

And while some mammals may survive by fleeing or sheltering in underground burrows, their food sources berries, grasses, insects often take time to recover, which puts added pressure on nearby unburnt areas.

While wildfire ecology is well-researched in places like Australia, the Mediterranean, and North America, it’s still emerging science in the Highlands. Here, wildfires have been historically rare, and most native species are not adapted to cope with fire. We are only beginning to understand the long-term ecological consequences. What we do know is that recovery is often slow and, in some cases, habitats may never return to their original state.

What can we do?

Behind the scenes, the Fire Service, landowners, and community volunteer services are working on prevention and response. As rangers, we’re continuing our efforts to change perceptions helping both locals and visitors understand the risks and what’s okay (or not okay) to do outdoors.

It’s vital that people pay attention to the “High Fire Risk” warnings and pass the message on. Awareness is key.

The more people understand how serious this is, the better chance we have of preventing future fires from occuring in the first place.

A few years ago, I worked with pupils from Kinlochewe Primary and Ullapool High School to create wildfire warning signs. They’ve been used by landowners across the area and are available to download at the Highland Environment Forum site:

For practical advice on avoiding or reporting wildfires, the Ready Scotland website is excellent:

And do follow Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for up-to-date risk warnings:
https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/news/
or via Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3441056022691590...

Final word

This fire was a wake-up call. Our landscape isn’t immune to fire – it’s increasingly at risk. Let’s use this moment to pause, reflect, learn, share, and prepare better. If we talk about it now, maybe we can stop something worse happening later.

Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to protect this special place.

Jenny Grant High Life Highland Countryside ranger for Wester Ross holds a deep passion for the nature and heritage of Scottish Highlands. Her lifelong pursuit involves learning and teaching Highland ecology, embracing both scientific study and local wisdom. Jenny's holistic approach extends beyond academia; she immerses herself in nature through hikes, wildlife encounters, and community engagement. Her enthusiasm is infectious, often sharing insights and leading conservation efforts. Jenny embodies a commitment to understanding and preserving the diverse ecosystem around her, proving that ecological knowledge is not just learned but lived and cherished.

Andy Summers, our Senior Ranger in Assynt, wrote a brilliant piece about wildfire and climate change in the Highlands – you can read that here:

A piece I wrote about the area late last year:

And an article on Molinia caerulea