'Very high' wildfire warning covering Edinburgh and eastern Scotland extended following huge blaze near Arthur's Seat
Wildfires have been sparked near Arthur’s Seat and further north in the Cairngorm National Park in recent days
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has extended a “very high” wildfire warning over eastern Scotland and other regions after a huge blaze broke out near Arthur’s Seat.
Fire crews raced to the scene of the wildfire on Salisbury Crags in Sunday evening (July 19), at around 6.20pm.
Crews remained in place through the day on Monday, when a fire briefly reignited, with firefighters expected to stay on the scene for “a couple of days”.
A ‘very high’ wildfire warning for the central Highlands, southern and eastern Scotland had been in place from Wednesday, July 15 until Monday, July 20, but this has now been extended.
SFRS said in a wildfire warning update that this warning has been extended until Friday, July 24.
The extended warning comes following not only the wildfire near Arthur’s Seat, but also an ongoing wildfire in Cairngorms National Park which has been burning for almost a week.
SFRS’s Deputy Assistant Chief Officer (DACO) Ian McMeekin said: “We’ve seen this week that wildfires and large fires in the open can have a devastating impact on the environment and they can be incredibly disruptive to communities.
“Now the very high wildfire risk warning has been extended until later this week and we must ask the people of Scotland to help us by following our advice.
“If you want to enjoy the warmer weather, or you’re spending time outdoors, please do so responsibly and take simple steps to prevent fires from starting.
“Even if a warning is not in place where you live, we ask everyone to stay vigilant.”
DACO McMeekin added: “Avoid lighting outdoor fires or barbecues in affected areas and remember that a single spark can cause significant damage. There is no such thing as a harmless fire.
“You can help by sharing wildfire warnings with your family, friends, and any visitors."
Visitors to Arthur’s Seat have been reminded by heritage body Historic Environment Scotland of rules banning the use of items such as disposable barbecues in Holyrood Park.
HES said in a statement: “With hot and dry weather increasing the risk of wildfires, please help us protect Scotland's parks and green spaces by taking extra care: do not light fires or disposable barbecues, do not discard cigarettes or matches, take all litter home with you, especially glass bottles which can intensify heat and increase fire risk.”