By Dave Lord

OVER 40 firefighters from all over Perthshire descended on a remote tree plantation after a massive blaze yesterday afternoon.

A total of eight pumps attended as the fire close to Rannoch Station was brought under control.

A command support unit manned by senior officers was also set up at the scene.

Nobody was injured during the dramatic blaze, which was described by a Tayside Fire and Rescue spokeswoman as “major”.

Dozens of firefighter fought flames described as covering a two-mile “front”.

There are very few man-made structures in the area, and a spokesman at the Moor of Rannoch Hotel confirmed it was unaffected.

“There was a fair bit of smoke but thankfully the wind was blowing in the opposite direction,” he said.

“It is a very remote spot and the closest houses are probably about 12 miles away.”

Pumps from Aberfeldy, Kinloch Rannoch, Pitlochry, Perth and Blairgowrie were among those attending the scene after the alarm was raised at around 1.30pm.

A Tayside Fire and Rescue spokeswoman confirmed details of the incident in a statement released last night.

“At approximately 13.30 hours we received a call to a fire in the open at Rannoch Station,” she said.

“At the height of the incident Tayside Fire and Rescue had eight pumping appliances, a command support unit and an operational support unit deployed to the scene.

“In total there were approximately 40 firefighters on the incident ground.

“They were involved in fighting a fire involving a small tree plantation across a two-mile front.”

Fire crews remained on the scene for much of the night and are expected to return to the scene today.

An investigation into the cause of the blaze will be carried out in due course.