Emergency crews fight wildfire in hills above Loch Lomond through the night

Emergency crews continue to fight a wildfire in the hills above Loch Lomond.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called to the blaze near Tarbet at around 2.43pm on Saturday.

Two appliances were deployed but a further two pumps were sent to tackle the height of the fire.

The wildfire was reported to cover area of roughly one square kilometre.

As of 8.50am on Sunday, three crews and two specialist resources remain on the scene working to extinguish the fire.

It comes after the fire service and the Scottish Wildfire Forum warned of an “extreme” and “very high” risk of wildfire in parts of Scotland over the weekend following dry weather.

An extreme risk of wildfire came into force in western Scotland on Friday and remains in place until Sunday.

In central and eastern Scotland, there is a very high risk of wildfire warning.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Wildfire Forum have urged people to avoid lighting outdoor fires in those areas.

Deputy assistant chief officer Kenny Barbour, the fire service head of prevention and chairman of the forum, said: “Wildfires have the potential to destroy property, landscapes and wildlife, which is why it is so important that members of the public use extreme caution under these conditions.

“People living in the impacted areas should avoid lighting outdoor fires and be mindful that one spark can spread, causing a large amount of damage.

“Remember, there’s no such thing as a harmless fire.

“Share wildfire warnings with your family, friends, and visitors.

“If anyone spots a large outdoor fire, please report it immediately by calling 999, providing your location, and any other relevant information so we can respond quickly.”