West Calder wildfire: Residents urged to keep windows shut after major fire

Firefighters have warned residents living near a blaze that ravaged a large area in West Lothian to keep their windows closed for safety reasons.

Firefighters are warning the public in the area to close their windows.

Flames ripped through an area of moorland and woodland stretching one mile by 1.5 miles near West Calder, adjacent to the A70, on Wednesday afternoon.

More than 24 hours later, 60 firefighters are still working to extinguish the flames, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said.

On Thursday evening, fire crews warned nearby residents to keep their windows closed as the plume moves in an easterly direction, heading towards Edinburgh.

A SFRS spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 1.23pm on Wednesday, August 10 to reports of a fire in the open at High Camilty, West Calder.

"Operations Control has now mobilised 12 appliances to the scene, where crews remain in attendance as they work to make the area safe."

It comes after SFRS this week warned that eastern Scotland is at high risk from wildfires during the current heatwave.