Wildfire warnings issued for eastern and south west Scotland as warm weather continues

A warning for very high risk of wildfires has been issued for parts of Scotland in the coming days as warm weather continues.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF), are warning that on Thursday, May 28, there is a very high risk of wildfires in the south west of the country.

Eastern Scotland has also been issued a warning, lasting from Friday, May 29 until Monday, June 1.

Those in affected areas have been urged to avoid lighting outdoor fires.

Deputy assistant chief officer Kenny Barbour, who is SFRS’ head of prevention and the chair of the SWF said: “Even a single spark can quickly escalate, causing widespread damage.

“Taking simple precautions can help prevent devastating damage. Remember, there’s no such thing as a harmless fire.

“Share wildfire warnings with your family, friends, and visitors. And if anyone spots an outdoor fire, please report it immediately by calling 999, providing your location, and any other relevant information so we can respond quickly.”

It comes after Scotland recorded its warmest day of the year so far on Monday.

The end of the bank holiday weekend brought unseasonably high temperatures across the country, with temperatures in some spots 12C above the average.

The previous warmest day of the year was on April 30, with a high of 24.7C.

On Monday, temperatures reached 26.6C at Charterhall in the Scottish Borders, while it reached 25.5C at Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens.

The warnings come as fire crews tackled a blaze which broke out on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.

Three appliances were initially sent to the scene, with members of the public asked to avoid the area as crews worked to extinguish the large grass fire.

The fire started in an area of vegetation near the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel, and there were no reported injuries.

Images showed a large area of grass alight with emergency services on scene.