Fire chiefs urge caution as extreme wildfire warning issued

Fire chiefs are calling on people to act responsibly after an “extreme” wildfire warning was issued for the whole of Scotland.

Michael Humphreys, the national wildfire lead for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), made the plea as the warning covering Friday and Saturday came into effect.

It comes as firefighters remain at the scene of a wildfire on the Isle of Arran, with the incident still ongoing after the SFRS was first alerted to the blaze, to the north west of Brodick, at about 1pm on Thursday.

Police have warned people to stay away from the walking trails near Glen Rosa, Glen Shant, Glen Sannox and Goatfell on Arran.

Elsewhere, one fire appliance remains at the scene of a wildfire in the Cumbernauld area of North Lanarkshire, which broke out on Thursday evening.

Firefighters were called to reports of a blaze in the Fannyside Road area at around 8.40pm and remained there overnight.

Fannyside Road is closed between Forest Road, Cumbernauld, and the B803 Greengairs Road and people have been urged to avoid the area.

People living in the Abronhill area of Cumbernauld and in Bonnybridge have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke in the area.

Four appliances were also called to a “significant” blaze in the Pentland Hills near the A702 at about 8.25pm on Friday.

Mr Humphreys said while some might think it unusual to have wildfires at this time of year, SFRS data for the last decade shows “we see the largest number of wildfires between the months of March and June every year”.

He said he hopes the extreme wildfire warning will “make people think if they are going out to enjoy the countryside, to act responsibly, and stop a fire from starting in the first place”.

The firefighter told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “What we see is the majority of fires, it is human behaviour that starts the fire in the first place.”

He urged people heading out to the countryside to think about the risks, adding: “Enjoy the countryside, it is a sunny day today, but act responsibly.

“If you normally use a barbecue maybe think about taking a picnic instead or using a designated area.

“Take all your litter home, glass can reflect and start a fire and if you do smoke just make sure your cigarette is absolutely fully out.”

He added that wet weather last year meant there had not been as many wildfires in 2024, but there have been a “number” of blazes this week and he highlighted the “devastation they can cause to the countryside and the worry for local residents”.

His comments came after a week which has seen fire crews battle wildfires in places including Skye and the Galloway Forest Park – where four campers had to be rescued by helicopter as the flames spread.

Mr Humphreys urged anyone who spots a fire to call the fire service immediately.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 8.40pm on Thursday, 10 April, to reports of a large area of grass on fire in the Fannyside Road area, Cumbernauld.

“Operations Control mobilised six fire appliances to the scene, where firefighters are still working to extinguish a fire affecting three large areas of grass.

“As a precaution, members of the public are being asked to avoid the area and those in the local area should close windows and doors.”