A HELICOPTER joined firefighting efforts on Friday as crews spent a third day tackling a major wildfire that has led to evacuations in the Cairngorms.

The fire started at Ryvoan Bothy, near Nethy Bridge, on Wednesday and had spread to cover around six kilometres by Thursday afternoon. 

Homes, businesses, campsites and ski resorts in the Glenmore Forest Park area have been evacuated as a precaution, though there have been no reports of casualties.

Cairngorms National Park Authority’s Gavin Miles said emergency services were “working tirelessly with colleagues from NGOs, local estates and other gamekeepers to put the fire out,” with a helicopter now dropping water on the blaze.

Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: “Public safety is the priority, which is why the decision to evacuate a campsite and various properties has been taken as a precautionary measure.” 

Fire service officials described it as a “protracted incident” but said they had “adequate resources.”

The RSPB said around 300 hectares of land have burned so far. 

A wildfire warning remains in place across the central Highlands, southern and eastern Scotland until Monday.