Dramatic image shows wildfire near top attraction as Newhailes House and Gardens welcomes back visitors
Newhailes House & Gardens said that the wildfire spread quickly and flames reached the estate’s boundary wall
A top attraction is welcoming back visitors today after a nearby wildfire caused an evacuation on Thursday afternoon (August 6).
Visitors were evacuated from Newhailes House & Gardens in Musselburgh yesterday after the blaze broke out on a neighbouring field.
Firefighters were called to the scene while those visiting the historic attraction were told to leave “as a precaution” according to the National Trust for Scotland, which owns and operates the estate.
Newhailes House & Gardens has issued a new statement in which staff thanked emergency services for their work to quell the blaze, as well as revealing that the fire reached the estate’s boundary wall.
They told visitors on social media: “Yesterday afternoon we made the decision to evacuate Weehailes Playpark and Playful Summer after a wildfire broke out in the neighbouring field.
“The fire spread rapidly and, at its closest point, the flames reached our boundary wall. The safety of our visitors, volunteers and staff is always our highest priority, and we'd like to thank everyone for following instructions so calmly and patiently during the evacuation.
“We'd also like to extend our sincere thanks to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and all those involved in bringing the fire under control.
“Our thoughts are with the neighbouring farmers, who have suffered the devastating loss of their crop. We know how much hard work goes into producing it, and we are thinking of everyone affected.”
Newhailes House & Gardens is a sprawling Palladian-style country house standing on 80 acres of land. The attraction also boasts woodland walks, apiaries and allotments, and the Weehailes adventure play park.
The estate is now back open to visitors, with staff adding: “Thank you for your understanding and support. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Weehailes and Playful Summer as normal today.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 2.29pm on Thursday, 6 August to reports of a small fire in the open near Newhailes estate in Musselburgh.
"Operations Control mobilised one appliance to the scene to extinguish a fire measuring approximately 100m x 250m.
"Crews worked until 3.38pm to make the area safe before leaving the scene."