Gourock grass fire: Mum tells of 'massive' blaze on moors

Mum Louise Reid was in her Gourock home with her four-year-old daughter when she noticed a large plume of smoke coming from the moors which sit between Greenock and Gourock.

She soon realised that the smoke's source was a large grass fire which was burning through the grass land near her home.  

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The 25-year-old told the Telegraph that the fire had spread as far as she could see.

"I just saw loads of smoke, the whole of the moors was just on fire. 

"It was going away up over the hills too. 

"The fire brigade arrived very quickly to deal with it. 

"All I thought at first was that it was a massive fire but I did start to think maybe we should move. 

"It was very windy and I think that helped it spread. 

The Midton mother said that the prospect of more fires this summer was a concern to her. 

She added: "If that's the way it spreads when the temperature is low, who knows what it'll be like come summer.

"They'll need to keep a watchful eye on things. 

"I've been here about four years and I've seen a handful of fires in that time, but nothing like this.

"My wee girl was quite scared but I told her the fire brigade would be there soon to help. 

"It was good to see how well the fire service dealt with it."

The blaze, which was large enough to be seen from Dunoon, was extinguished by fire crews last night, with no casualties reported.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 7.28pm on May 4 to reports of grass on fire near to Earnhill Road, Greenock.

“Operations control mobilised two fire appliances and firefighters extinguished a fire affecting several large areas of grass.

“There were no reported casualties and crews left after ensuring the area was made safe.”