South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth has praised the response by emergency services and partners to the recent wild fires in Galloway.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, HM Coastguard as well as volunteers from Galloway Mountain rescue team and others have been involved in tackling the impact of the fires since the weekend.

Colin Smyth said, “The response from our emergency services and partners has helped bring the fires under control and kept people save and I can’t praise those involved enough. Obviously, it will be important for a full look at the response by the Scottish Government, for example, does our fire and rescue team in the region have enough resources to be able to respond to what is likely to be a growing problem for the region. But the work carried out by individuals in Scottish Fire and Rescue, Police Scotland, HM Coastguard and volunteers from Galloway Mountain Rescue team and others has been exceptional and the reason why thankfully there have been no casualties. Stories of people being recused metres from the fire shows just how dangerous this has been.

“Although thankfully the fires are currently under control, clearly the continuing warm, dry weather means people should remain vigilant and it is vital everyone continues to follow the advice of our emergency services and partners including not doing anything that could cause a fire on the exceptionally dry land”.