FIRE swept across the Ochils on Monday night – burning dangerously close to nearby homes in Alva.

 

Rhodder’s Farmhouse, just outside the town, suffered slight damage when it was set alight by sparks caught in the loft of the home.

The cause of the fire has yet to be established and fire investigators had returned to the scene during daylight as Wee County News went to press.

 

One local described the fire as the biggest they’d seen on the Ochils and added it was unusual to see them at this time of year. He said: “When I was driving down to Alva I could see it from miles away.

 

“It seems strange for the fire to start naturally at this time of year – but I guess nobody really knows the cause.”

 

Firefighters battled the blaze for around an hour in freezing temperatures on the side of the hill. 

 

A spokeswoman for Central Scotland Fire and Rescue, said: “We got a call at 6.53pm from a member of the public reporting a fire in Alva Glen. On arrival at the incident, firefighters were confronted with a fire that was well alight that had spread to trees and gorse on Alva Glen.

 

“Five appliances and a water carrier were sent to the incident from Alloa, Tillicoultry and Stirling with 27 firefighters initially sent to tackle the blaze.

 

“The fire was allowed to burn, although close inspection was kept on the fire.”