Scottish heatwave sparks tenth wildfire warning

STV News

a day ago

Scotland's tenth wildfire warning this year has been issued as the country heads into a heatwave.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is urging the public to avoid using naked flames outdoors from August 13 to August 19.
The first warning will go into place across the eastern parts of the country from August 13 to 15.
A second warning for eastern and western parts of the country comes into place on August 16 and expires on August 17.
Most of Scotland, including the east, west, central belt and southern uplands, is covered by a third warning from August 18 to 19.
It comes as Scotland is set to get its third heatwave of the summer, with STV weather presenter Philip Petrie saying temperatures are set to be as much as 12 degrees above average.
'Most of the very high temperatures (33C-35C) will be seen across parts of central and southern England, but it will still be very warm in Scotland with lots of bright and dry weather around until Thursday,' Philip said.
A number of wildfires have devastated parts of the country this year.
In April, a wildfire broke out on the Isle of Bute and burned for five days.
Richard Whitcomb, chair of Bute Community Forest, said the forest lost around eight hectares to the blaze.
In the same month, a second blaze broke out on the Isle of Arran and decimated the island's reptile population, leaving hundreds dead.
In May, a disposable barbecue caused a blaze around the size of 'two rugby pitches' in the Trossachs.
Woodland Trust Scotland said the two hectare fire killed nesting birds and other wildlife in the Glen Finglas region of the national park.
Group commander Niall MacLennan is urging people to avoid using portable barbecues, discarding cigarettes on the ground or lighting campfires in or near areas of vegetation, as these all pose a significant threat.
'We know the vast majority of wildfires are started by human behaviour, so acting responsibly can lower the chance of a fire starting in the first place,' he said.
'Help us protect remote and rural communities, who can be hugely impacted by wildfires, by following the safety advice and being familiar with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.'
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