Environmental incidents – SEISS reports (wildfire and chemical spill)

The Scottish Environmental Incident Surveillance System (SEISS) recorded the following incidents in the past week:

• On 4 April 2018, a major wildfire broke out on the Black Cuillin of Rum, in the Inner Hebrides. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the fire at about 3pm. They visited the island and said there was no risk to property or those living on the island, which is owned and run by Scottish Natural Heritage. Helicopters have been used to bring the flames under control. Conservationists from Rum Deer Research, who study red deer on the island, were concerned the fire could affect their study areas and research buildings. This was reported by BBC news.
• On 30 March 2018, police set up a 100 metre exclusion zone after a man died close to a suspected chemical spill near Dumfries. The man was found at an old farm cottage in the village of Terregles and an unidentified chemical substance was spotted on the floor of the cottage. Police are treating the death as ‘unexplained’. The exclusion zone was set up as a precaution and members of the public were asked to avoid the immediate area. Inquiries are under way to establish the nature of the substance. On 2 April 2018, the exclusion zone was lifted and police have stressed that there was no risk to the public. This was reported by BBC news.

More detailed information can be found on the SEISS website, or contact either Ian Henton or Colin Ramsay at HPS on 0141 300 1100.