Firefighters battled a serious moorland wildfire in the Galloway hills.
The blaze broke out near Loch Grannoch off the A712 New Galloway-Newton Stewart road around 3.30pm on Tuesday.
The fire burned all the way over Craigronald hill close to Cairnsmore of Fleet.
By Tuesday night the entire hillside was a blackened wilderness with untold losses of wildlife.
At least one pair of peregrine falcons is known to nest on the eastern crags of Craigronald overlooking the loch.
Significant areas of commercial forestry stand nearby.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Johnston control room confirmed the fire was “an ongoing incident”.
A spokesperson said at midday yesterday: “We were alerted at 3.33pm on Tuesday to reports of a grass fire at Loch Grannoch, along the A712.
“Operations Control mobilised six appliances to the scene and four remain in attendance, along with a helicopter that is providing assistance.”
One local resident speculated a lack of sheep grazing and moorland management over recent years had contributed to the inferno.
“Usually that happens by the end of April.”
