Andrew Baxter: “Scotland’s retained duty firefighter system is creaking and straining.”

People who lived through this fire have raised serious questions about preparedness, communication and the resources available. They deserve answers they can trust.

We need to be clear: it is not a case of if the next fire strikes, it is a case of when.

We need the Scottish Government to step in and commission a probe into whether Scotland’s current defences are fit for purpose.

The SNP government’s action plan on wildfires, and their subsequent response, fell grossly short of what was needed.