Dozens of firefighters battle major West Lothian wildfire burning for third day, as public warning remains over using BBQs and campfires

Firefighters from all over West Lothian have been battling a major wildfire in the region since Friday afternoon.

At its height, nine appliances - about 45 firefighters - attended the blaze in Polkemmet Moor, near Fauldhouse, and two crews are still there today keeping it under control and dampening down any remaining hotspots.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) spokeswoman said the area is infamous for wildfires, which have been keeping crews busy over the weekend because of the hot and dry conditions.

The wildfire near Fauldhouse. Pic: Linlithgow Fire Station/SFRS

Firefighters from Linlithgow Fire Station were among those tackling the flames. In a tweet they said: “A special thanks has to go the residents of Fauldhouse for their donations in what seemed like an almost endless supply of bottled water, cans of fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate & fruit to keep all the crews refreshed and hydrated.”

Another tweet from the Linlithgow station also described the blaze as “challenging” for crews due to the terrain, scale and hot weather.

An SFRS watch commander, Les Mason, was also among those at the scene over the weekend.

In a tweet, he said firefighters and forestry teams made "excellent progress" in "really challenging conditions" on the second day of the fire, and thanked the Scottish Ambulance Service for standing by to ensure their safety.

An area of land near Fauldhouse has been devastated by wildfire. Picture: Les Mason/Twitter

He also shared pictures which showed a charred out area of land at the scene and a helicopter which was deployed to drop water onto the flames from above.

The SFRS spokeswoman said the wildfire initially covered an area of 100 metres x 100 metres in trees and shrubland and that the flames then spread.

She said: "It has involved crews from the whole of West Lothian, from West Calder and Bathgate to those from Edinburgh and Falkirk, Whitburn and Broxburn.

"They have been quite busy, generally, over the weekend."

A helicopter was brought in to drop water from above. Pic: Les Mason/Twitter

The spokeswoman said it is believed the fire started because of the hot and dry conditions of late and not for any other suspicious reason.

SFRS has issued a "very high" alert for wildfires across Scotland which remains in place until Monday.

As public lockdown restrictions are eased during the coronavirus pandemic, people who live within or who may visit rural areas have been warned to to “think twice” before using anything involving a naked flame, such as lighting barbecues or campfires.

Wildfires can start by the careless disposal of barbecues and campfires and have the potential to burn for days and ruin vast areas of land and wildlife and threaten nearby communities.

Fire crews on the east coast of Scotland have also been battling a major wildfire over the weekend at Mount Hill, Monimail, near Cupar in Fife. Crews are still in attendance there today.

In recent weeks, notable wildfires have started in New Galloway forest in Dumfries and Galloway, at Wester Ross in the Highlands, and on Kilpatrick Hills near Clydebank.