A major wildfire continues to rage in the Cairngorms for a third day.
The blaze, which ignited in heathland near Ryvoan Bothy, close to Nethy Bridge, late on Wednesday morning, has since engulfed an area spanning about 6km.
Several homes and businesses, including campsites and ski resorts within the Glenmore Forest Park, have been closed and evacuated.
Fire crews battled through Thursday night, with six fire engines and specialist resources remaining on site on Friday morning to contain the inferno.
No casualties have been reported.
Firefighters have described the situation as a "protracted incident" as they work to prevent further spread, but assure the public they possess “adequate resources” to manage the ongoing challenge.
Scotland’s Justice Secretary Neil Gray, who has responsibility for resilience within his portfolio, said on Thursday that the fire has been contained, “thanks to the exceptional work of firefighters who have been on the scene since Wednesday morning”.
He added: “Public safety is the priority, which is why the decision to evacuate a campsite and various properties has been taken as a precautionary measure.
“I want to thank the firefighters, police, land managers, volunteers and all partners who are doing an outstanding job keeping people, property and the natural environment as safe as possible.
“The Scottish government continues to monitor the situation closely and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed they have adequate resources committed to this incident.”
Lynne Gow, a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) area commander based in the Highlands, said: “I would agree that we have adequate resources. We’re absolutely certain of our practical plan here.”
About 741 acres of land have been burnt so far, the RSPB said.
Twenty-seven of its staff and volunteers were out helping fight the blaze earlier in the week, using equipment including all-terrain vehicles with water bowsers, backpack hoses and shovels, the charity said.
A strict cordon remains in place and people have been warned not to travel to the area or attempt to access Glenmore Forest Park, Loch Morlich or the surrounding area.
“This remains a protracted incident, and I want to thank our firefighters for their continued commitment and determination in challenging conditions,” SFRS deputy assistant chief officer Ian McMeekin said.
“I would also like to thank our partner agencies, landowners and local organisations whose support has been invaluable throughout this response.
“The safety of our communities remains our priority, and we will continue to assess the need for any further evacuations alongside multi-agency partners as the incident progresses.
“The wildfire risk across Scotland remains high.
“We are asking everyone to follow the advice in place, stay away from the affected area and help reduce the risk of further wildfires while our crews continue their work to bring this incident to a safe conclusion.”
The blaze comes while parts of Scotland are at very high risk of wildfire over the next few days.
The SFRS, in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, has issued wildfire warnings for the central Highlands, southern and eastern Scotland.
The alert, warning of a very high risk of wildfire, came into force on Wednesday and lasts until Monday.
It follows days of hot and dry weather in many parts of the country.
Elsewhere, firefighters are tackling a wildfire at Fauldhouse Moor in West Lothian.
They were called to the scene at 5.52pm on Thursday and two fire engines remained at the scene on Friday morning.
There have been no reports of any casualties.
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