Wildfire breaks out in Lanarkshire as smoke drifts for miles due to high winds
Dozens of firefighters are currently battling a significant wildfire, with the public warned to keep windows and doors closed if they can see the smoke.
Huge billows of smoke were pictured miles away from the blaze in Shotts, North Lanarkshire, with nearby towns suffering as it drifts due to high winds.
Emergency services were alerted to the blaze at approximately 4.09pm on Sunday, May 18.
Six fire appliances and around 30 firefighters have been deployed to the scene to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is urging residents to take precautions as thick smoke continues to drift across the village.
And due to smoke also spreading towards nearby towns - including Motherwell, Wishaw and Newmains - authorities are advising residents in affected areas to keep their doors and windows closed as a safety measure.
Efforts to bring the wildfire under control are ongoing, with fire crews working under challenging conditions exacerbated by the dry and gusty weather.
It comes after the Scottish Fire and Rescue service put an "extreme risk" of wildfires in place across Scotland between May 15 and May 19.
Fire chiefs warned the vast majority of wildfires are started by human behaviour and are urging communities to avoid lighting fires and using naked flames while this warning is in place.
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In recent days, there have also been wildfires in Newtonhill, Aberdeenshire and near Cumnock in Ayrshire.
Remote and rural communities, in particular, are impacted by wildfire.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "Around 30 firefighters are currently tackling a wildfire in Shotts, North Lanarkshire. Smoke is travelling across the village and residents are asked to keep doors and windows closed.
"Due to high winds, smoke is drifting towards nearby towns of Motherwell, Wishaw and Newmains. If smoke is visible, please keep your windows and doors closed.
"We were alerted to the fire at 4.09pm today [Sunday 18 May], with six fire appliances and officers in attendance."
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