'Very high' wildfire warning issued by fire chiefs as sizzling heatwave continues
A 'very high' risk of wildfire has been put in place for the next week as a sizzling heatwave continues across the country.
As the parts of Scotland enjoy highs of 28C over the next couple of days a stark warning has been issued by fire chiefs to remind the public to enjoy the weather responsibly and be aware of wildfire risks.
The warning from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service comes into effect from Wednesday, 13 August and remains in place until Tuesday, 19 August.
It comes as fire crews remain at the scene of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh after it was ravaged by gorse fires on Sunday into the early hours of Monday.
The fire had engulfed large areas of the extinct volcano close to the city centre.
No casualties have been reported in the incident, but fire crews have battled for more than a day to try and extinguish the inferno, with four appliances and specialist resources mobilised to Arthur's Seat at its peak.
The affected areas across Scotland at risk of wildfires include:
13-15 August - eastern areas
16-17 August - eastern and western areas
18-19 August - most of Scotland, including east, west, central belt and southern uplands.
The vast majority of wildfires are started by human behaviour and the SFRS is urging communities to avoid lighting fires and using naked flames while this warning is in place.
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Group Commander Niall MacLennan said: "During periods when the risk of wildfires is high, we want 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.
"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."
The SFRS has an array of wildfire prevention and safety advice on its website.
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