Arthur's Seat fire: John Swinney says dangers of wildfires 'cannot be underestimated'
Appeal to public for continued vigilance outdoors
First Minister John Swinney has warned that the dangers of wildfires “cannot be underestimated”, as he appealed to the public to stay vigilant when they are outdoors.
Speaking as fire crews continued to tackle an outbreak on Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat and a large-scale wildfire in the Cairngorms, Mr Swinney said the Scottish Government would work with fire chiefs and other agencies to ensure they had the resources they needed.
The First Minister was preparing to visit the Glenmore fire in Cairngorms National Park to see the effects of the wildfire, meet frontline firefighters and volunteers, and chair a meeting with partner agencies and local community representatives.
He said: "The incidents at Glenmore and Arthur's Seat show the devastating impact wildfires can have on landscapes, properties and people's lives. Their dangers cannot be underestimated.
“I am urging everyone to keep vigilant when they are outdoors and check if the area they are visiting is at risk of wildfires before igniting any flames. Even in areas where there is no alert people should be very aware of the need to light and extinguish fires and flames responsibly and discard all waste properly including glass bottles which can easily start grass fires.
"Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews, Police Scotland, land managers, volunteers and all partner agencies have been absolutely outstanding tackling this substantial fire and I want to thank them for keeping people, properties and our natural environment safe.
“We will continue to work with the SFRS and partner agencies to ensure they are appropriately resourced, including specialist wildfire units, tactical commanders and helicopter support where needed.
"People in affected areas should follow the advice of emergency services, avoid active fire locations and exclusion zones and stay updated with guidance from the SFRS and local authorities."