INDUSTRY bodies are calling for caution as hot weather is heightening wildfire risks.

A huge wildfire which has been burning for three days may have been sparked by holidaymakers wild camping.

Forestry Land Scotland (FLS), the government agency which manages forests and land, said the cause of the fire near the Highland village of Cannich was associated with people camping out.

The blaze broke out on Sunday and has continued to spread across the countryside, which has been dried to tinderbox conditions after days without rain.

Two firefighters were airlifted to hospital yesterday after they were injured when the vehicle they were travelling in crashed.

FLS It said there had been a similar incident in Tentsmuir Forest in Fife last week, when a campfire started a wildfire.

FLS north region manager Alex MacLeod, said: “Many people are enjoying being out in the countryside to enjoy the hot weather but the lack of rain recently has made much of the countryside tinder-box dry.

“Camping stoves are clearly recommended as being a better option than campfires but when the weather has been as hot as it has, and the ground is as dry as it is, neither are advisable.

“Regardless of how it started, this particular incident is a sobering reminder of how easily and quickly a wildfire can take hold and become a major problem.”

Images put on social media by Balintore Fire Station show apocalyptic scenes of scorched ground and billowing smoke.

Wildfire monitoring expert Dr Thomas Smith has warned the blaze has the potential to be Scotland's largest ever wildfire.

Director of moorland at Scottish Land and Estates, Ross Ewing, said: “Our thoughts are with the firefighters who have been injured tackling the wildfire in the area around Cannich.

“Nearly 3000 hectares of land have already been burned in this fire and it follows on from the huge wildfire near Glenuig in April, which was estimated to be the second largest ever recorded in the UK.

“Wildfires have a devastating impact on wildlife and habitats, generating catastrophic carbon emissions. They are becoming increasingly frequent in Scotland, partly due to climate change and partly due to a lack of fuel load management in some areas.

“This wildfire demonstrates how important it is to utilise all the tools at our disposal to manage the fuel load of vegetation, which has been shown to increase wildfire risk. We hope the situation at Cannich will soon be contained so that the scale and extent of damage can be assessed.

“We urging anyone going out into the countryside to take care and follow guidance in relation to campfire cooking and when the ground is so dry it’s recommended not to use either a campfire or a camping stove.”