Images show 'large' wildfire raging across forest area as blaze spreads north to Ayrshire

Key Points

Fire crews battling large wildfire at Galloway Forest Park
The blaze has spread north to neighbouring area of South Ayrshire
Helicopters and mountain rescue called into to help fight the fire
Members of the public asked to avoid the area and campers to vacate
Residents urged to keep windows and doors closed

Images have shown a “large” wildfire spreading across Galloway Forest Park towards Ayrshire with members of the public urged to avoid the area.

Firefighters worked through the night to deal with the large blaze after it was first reported around 11.50pm on Friday.

The blaze is affecting Merrick Hill, Ben Yellary, Glen Trool and Loch Dee near Newton Stewart.

Members of the public are being asked to avoid the area as the fire spread to Loch Doon in South Ayrshire on Sunday.

Galloway Forest Park fire spreading to East Ayrshire . Galloway MRT

Residents living nearby have are advised to keep windows and doors closed.

Anyone planning to camp in the area have also been told to leave.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it was initially called around 4.20pm on Thursday to reports of a large area of grass on fire north of Loch Dee.

Two appliances remain on the scene of the blaze at Glen Trool in the Galloway Forest Park.

Helicopters remain in use to “water-bomb” the fire, with Galloway Mountain Rescue Team also assisting.

A Police Scotland statement on Sunday read: “Emergency services and partners are continuing to deal with a wildfire affecting Loch Doon, East Ayrshire.

“People are reminded to avoid the area. Residents living nearby are advised to keep windows and doors closed

Galloway MRT said: “We were tasked yesterday evening (April 4) to assist with the evacuation of groups of walkers/wild campers in the area of the Merrick hill in Dumfries and Galloway.

“Our Volunteers worked throughout the night, with partner agencies, to locate all those in danger from the advancing wildfire.

“Mountain Rescue Drone pilots, helped provide intelligence to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in stopping the spread of this large fire, which at some points measured 2 miles wide.

“This afternoon, the fire had changed direction and MRT personnel have been tasked to areas identified as being at risk in the Loch Doon area, in Southern Ayrshire.

“We are also helping Police Scotland by providing overnight spotters who will monitor the situation until Sunday morning.”

Wildfire warning – crews tackle large blazes across Scotland

It comes amid a very high to extreme warning in place across the whole country for risk of wildfire.

Firefighters tackled a wildfire on a hill in Aberdeen on Friday evening.

Crews from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) were called to the Gramps in the Torry area of the city around 8.55pm.

Six appliances were sent to the scene with crews leaving in the early hours of Saturday.

Glasgow & West

Wildfire spreads north from forest park as firefighters tackle ‘large’ blaze

Police said emergency services have worked through the night to deal with a large wildfire in Galloway.

Police Scotland said the fire was extinguished by crews and there were no reports of any injuries.

The same very high to extreme warning was in place across Scotland last week with crews fighting fires in the Stirling and East Dunbartonshire areas.

Flames of two metres high were extinguished at Gartur Moss, Port of Menteith, when the alarm was raised at 12.27pm on Wednesday.

Five fire engines were at the scene on Thursday morning tackling the blaze which the fire service described as half a kilometre long.

Emergency services were also called to the scene of a wildfire in the Kilpatrick Hills near Milngavie at around 5.30pm on Tuesday.

⚠️ 🔥 A very high to extreme wildfire warning remains in place through the weekend.

For more info and advice 👉 https://t.co/Pgxcd7YORD https://t.co/xIF7B1BfXh
— Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (@fire_scot) April 5, 2025

Group commander Garry Douglas, an SFRS tactical adviser, said: “During any period of heightened risk, fires can ignite easily, spread very quickly, and burn with high intensity.

“At this time of year in early spring, we typically have a large volume of dead, bone-dry vegetation across large areas of countryside. This essentially acts as a fuel for fire.

“There are currently vast areas that are tinder dry and vulnerable, which provides all the ingredients for fire to take hold and spread.

“Human behaviour is the cause of most wildfires in Scotland, so it is imperative we all act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors, especially over the coming days of predicted sunshine.

“By following some simple but key advice, we can significantly reduce the risk of wildfire occurring.”