The extent of the aftermath of a huge wildfire in the Scottish Highlands can be seen from space.

Emergency crews are continuing to battle the fire, which has burned across eight square kilometres of land near Cannich since Sunday.

Satellite images from Nasa show the plume of smoke from the blaze drifting towards Loch Ness on Monday amid clear skies.

Two firefighters responding to the incident on Tuesday were injured when their all-terrain vehicle crashed. The pair were airlifted to hospital for treatment and have since been released.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is under way.

The fire came after the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) warned of a “very high risk” of wildfires across the country due to the warm weather.

At the height of the fire, nine appliances were mobilised. A helicopter was also brought in to water bomb the area.

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As of Wednesday, four appliances and specialist resources remain at the scene.

Cews have gone to four separate fires in the same area since Tuesday 23 May.

Niall MacLennan, SFRS group commander, said: “Cannich has been a challenging incident and our crews are working tirelessly to tackle the fire and stop further spread.

“Extinguishing a fire on this scale requires a large amount of resources, including the use of helicopters to bolster our response.

“We will remain on scene until we make the area safe.”

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A wildfire warning across east, central and southern Scotland has been in place since Friday and has been extended until 5 June.

A build-up of dead grass and heather left over from last year can dry quickly as temperatures rise and be at risk of going up in flames.

Members of the public in the Cannich area are being asked not to walk their dogs near where the helicopters are releasing water as a safety precaution, and to close their windows and doors.

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Mr MacLennan added: “As the warm and dry weather continues, so too does the risk of wildfire. The ongoing incident at Cannich shows just how large these fires can become.

“A mixture of seasonal weather conditions combined with very dry and dead vegetation means there is a heightened risk of fires, which can be started by the careless disposal of cigarettes as well as barbecues or campfires left unattended.

“Many of our rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by these incidents, which can cause significant environmental and economic damage.”

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