The fires affected a huge swathe of moor and woodland, including a nature reserve, south of Inverness.
Dozens of firefighters, supported by gamekeepers, RSPB and Forestry and Land Scotland staff and waterbombing by helicopters, battled the flames.
Two firefighters were injured after their all-terrain vehicle overturned, and at the height of the blaze the smoke was photographed by satellites from space.In a letter to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Mr Ballance, who is deputy leader of Highland Council's City of Inverness area committee and Green councillor for Aird and Loch Ness, said he saluted the bravery of fire crews."Thirty square miles of moor and woodland, 25 years-worth of conservation work destroyed.
"On behalf of the City of Inverness area committee, and in particular my ward of Aird and Loch Ness, I have to thank you, and ask you to give our thanks to all your team, for your work in overcoming the fire at Cannich.RSPB Scotland said it was still assessing the full-scale of the fire's impact on its Corrimony reserve.
A spokeswoman said: "But it is clear that it is extensive and will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and take many years to restore."
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