The island of Gruinard, off the north-west coast of Scotland, was decimated by a huge fire on Saturday night. The locals were surprised to see flames and smoke pouring into the sky as the fire broke out on the island. Taking to social media, one viewer said: “Grevenard Island is on fire, reports of fire by Lewis.” Another added: “It’s very sad to see Gruinard Island in flames, but even sadder to hear the haunted squeak of oysters and geese.” The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said they did not know about the fire until Sunday morning. However, they added that the crews would not respond because there were no residents on Gruinard Island. The island of Wester Ross, known to many as “Anthrax Island”, became infected during World War II when it became a biological weapons test site. The sheep were exposed to deadly coal bombs on the island, which killed the animals within days. Photos show the effects of the fire (Image: George Finlayson) When inhaled, carbon spores can damage the lungs and are often fatal. Direct contact with charcoal can also cause elevated skin-like lesions. Gruinard was a no-go zone until it was declared safe by the UK government in 1990 following a major clean-up operation in 1986. Do not miss the latest news from all over Scotland and beyond – Subscribe to our daily newsletter here .
