King Charles thanks firefighters who tackled UK wildfires as he issues climate change warning

King Charles thanks firefighters who tackled UK wildfires as he issues climate change warning King Charles visited the Cairngorms today, where he met volunteers and firefighters who tackled a major wildfire in the area this summer that lasted almost five weeks The King has warned of the risks of ignoring climate change while expressing his admiration and appreciation for those who tackled wildfires across the UK this summer. It came as Charles met volunteers, firefighters and landowners who helped to try and contain a major wildfire in the Cairngorms, Scotland, during a visit to the area today. Fire crews and volunteers spent almost five weeks tackling the blaze, which broke out in the Glenmore area near Aviemore on July 15 and burned across 3,300 hectares of land. More than 500 firefighters were involved in fighting the blaze, with homes, businesses, campsites and a ski resort in the area evacuated. Today, the King visited An Lochan Uaine – commonly known as the Green Lochan – where he spoke with some of those involved in the firefighting efforts. The popular tourist destination lies in the area affected by the blaze, and some of the damage wrought by the fire was visible on the blackened slopes above the loch. Issuing a statement after the visit, the King highlighted the issue of climate change while thanking those who helped to tackle the fires. He said: "My wife and I have been appalled by the devastating impact of wildfires this summer and the terrible destruction they have caused to homes, livelihoods and landscapes, not only in this beautiful landscape of the Cairngorms, but across the United Kingdom and – as we have seen – other regions of Europe. “I can only express my admiration and appreciation to all those who have worked so tirelessly and courageously, in the UK and beyond, to bring these fires under control and to those supporting communities facing the long road to restoration and renewal that still lies ahead. “The shock of witnessing these fires around the world in recent months reminds us forcibly of the mounting pressures that prolonged heat and drought are placing upon our precious Earth, and of the increasingly urgent need not only to strengthen our collective resilience, including through preparedness and risk reduction, but also to tackle the root causes of climate change which, if not addressed, risk creating conditions which will make such tragic and costly events ever more frequent. “As the work of recovery still goes on for many, the compassion and fortitude of the communities affected shine through. It is my most heartfelt hope that they continue to find in one another the strength to rebuild.” During his visit, where he wore a grey blazer and chinos, the King walked with the assistance of a shepherd’s crook as he traversed the uneven ground through woodland above the loch. Representatives of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the RSPB, NatureScot and staff from local estates were among those to meet Charles. He spoke to them about the blaze, their firefighting efforts, and the damage done to the area. At one point, he could be heard discussing how Caledonian pine trees respond following a fire, and saying it is a “great relief” that the area has now seen some rain. He also met representatives of other national parks – including the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, in the US, which he visited as part of his trip across the Atlantic earlier in the year. As part of the visit, Charles marked the new twinning partnership between the mountains in the Highlands and Shenandoah National Park. The mountains of Scotland and Appalachia in the US formed part of the same ancient range more than 250 million years ago, before geological forces gradually separated them across the Atlantic. Charles unveiled a piece of granite from Shenandoah National Park to mark the shared geological heritage of the two national parks. The stone is a companion to the one from the Cairngorms that was unveiled in Shenandoah during Charles’s state visit to the US in April.