Barbecue sparks Trossachs blaze

Fire covered two hectares in Glen Finglas

- KAIYA MARJORIBANKS

A disposable barbecue caused a fire around the size of “two rugby pitches” in the Trossachs at the weekend, killing nesting birds and other wildlife.

The blaze covered two hectares in the Glen Finglas region of the national park on Saturday.

The disposable grill was found with a charred burger still on top after the blaze took place.

This week, the frustrated trust asked visitors to “use their noggin!” when out and about in the area, particularly given the high risk of wild fires recently.

Glen Finglas is the biggest Woodland Trust site in the UK. It lies at the heart of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and is part of the Great Trossachs Forest National Nature Reserve.

Earlier this week, the Woodland Trust posted: “There is currently an extreme risk of wildfire in place across the whole of Scotland, and we are set to have another week of dry, warm weather.

“So, while you are out enjoying it, take a look around and use your noggin: don’t light barbecues, don’t chuck cigarette ends into dry vegetation, or do anything else involving a naked flame. Pretty simple eh?”.