Latest news with #FireService
STV News
a day ago
- Climate
- STV News
Fire crews to remain on scene of Arthur's Seat blaze for 'foreseeable'
Fire crews are likely to be on the scene of a blaze at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh for the foreseeable. Four appliances were mobilised to the hillside after the alarm was raised at around 4pm on Sunday. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service area commander has said it is likely the blaze was caused by a person. Specialist resources are being used as the Fire Service works to extinguish the blaze, which is affecting a large area of gorse. Two fire engines remain on the scene, with crews likely to be in attendance for the foreseeable future. TikTok/Geordie273 Arthur's Seat fire. TikTok/Geordie273 TikTok/Geordie273 Arthur's Seat fire TikTok/Geordie273 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service group commander Niall MacLennan said: 'While we have no indication of the cause of the fire, the majority of fires of this nature are started by human behaviour. 'Responsible human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a fire starting. 'It's vital to follow all safety advice when outdoors and to make sure you are familiar with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code at all times.' There were no reports of any casualties. Images of Arthur's Seat show large plumes of white smoke billowing into the sky, with patches of fire visible in several spots on the hill face. The extinct volcano that overlooks Edinburgh is popular with tourists and hillwalkers and makes up most of Holyrood Park. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) confirmed the High Road and the pavement will be closed to all users until at least Friday. A spokesperson said: 'Our Ranger Service has been assisting Scottish Fire and Rescue with an ongoing incident in Holyrood Park. 'Road closures were in place in Holyrood Park overnight to support the work of the emergency services. 'Access has now been reinstated with the exception of the High Road, where the road and pavement will be closed to all users until at least Friday, August 15. 'We would also ask visitors to continue to follow guidance from the emergency services and avoid the south side of Arthur's Seat while the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service continue their work.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Homes evacuated and major incident declared as wildfire spreads near Bournemouth
A major incident has been declared as about 100 firefighters are tackling a fire ripping through Holt Heath in Bournemouth. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue are fighting to control the blaze which broke out near Wimbourne just after 11am this morning. Locals have been advised to stay clear of the area and 20 homes have been evacuated as residents are being ordered to keep their windows and doors shut. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service are currently also fighting another blaze at Newton Heath, near Swanage, which broke out last Sunday on August 3 and is the size of about 35 football pitches. Darren Langdown, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service's assistant chief fire officer, said the force was 'extremely grateful' to neighbouring services from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight who have helped battle the fire. Langdown said: 'We have declared a major incident both due to the size of the fire at Holt Heath, and also the impact of this and Newton Heath on our overall availability of resources.' He also urged the public not to fly drones near the fire, as it could interfere with those currently being used by the fire service crews. The Holt Heath fire, which covers an area about 1000m x 800m, has resulted in road closures in Holt Heath village and at the junction between Holt Road and Higher Road. Windy conditions are said to be making the fire harder to tackle, as firefighters are trying to surround the area to prevent it spreading further. Residents compared the scene to a 'horror movie' and dog walkers quickly fled the scene as people miles away spotted billowing smoke from the Heath. One dog walker, Marcus Lastra, told the Bournemouth Echo that he witnessed the fire start as smoke rising in the distance, before quickly growing into a huge fire. Lastra said: 'Because it's an open area, the flames spread very quickly in the wind. In those moments before the fire brigade got there, it had really taken hold. 'They started spraying parts of it, but then another section caught fire an it just spread and spread. 'There was mayhem on the main road because people were stopping to take pictures.' Chloe Mountford, from Northbourne, said that her husband first spotted it from their son's bedroom window. She said: 'We're in Northbourne, so it's a long way away too but we could still see the smoke from our house's window. 'It's on a hill, so you could see it straight away. Every time the breeze went past, you'd see it's all showing and it's all getting bigger. Four hours later it was still about the same, with a lot of smoke.' Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service said: 'We are currently dealing with a large fire at Holt Heath. 'This fire is spreading quickly and we strongly advise people to stay away from the area for their own safety. 'If you are a local resident you are advised to keep doors and windows closed.' Whilst the Newton Heath fire is thought to have been started deliberately, is not yet clear how the blaze at Holt Heath began.
Sky News
4 days ago
- Climate
- Sky News
At least two dead as wildfires sweep across Greece, Turkey and France
A least two people have died and two others are reported to have died after wildfires tore across southern Europe. Fast-moving flames, fanned by strong winds, crossed scrub-covered hillsides in the Keratea region of Greece, getting close to residential areas around 25 miles southeast of Athens on Friday. One man was found dead in Keratea during an evacuation, the Fire Service said. Ukraine war latest - peace deal close - Trump Two Vietnamese tourists died after falling in the water amid strong winds on the tourist island of Milos in the Cyclades, said, quoting the Coastguard. Authorities said 190 firefighters, using planes and helicopters to drop water, battled the blazes as thick clouds of black smoke filled the sky. Wildfires in neighbouring Turkey forced the temporary closure of the Dardanelles Strait to shipping because of heavy smoke and reduced visibility in the narrow waterway. A university campus and a care home for the elderly in northwestern Turkey were evacuated by authorities after another fire, which started in a field near Saricaeli village, in Canakkale province, quickly spread to a nearby forested area. 1:32 Firefighters in France who contained the country's largest wildfire in decades are on high alert because it is feared forecast high temperatures this weekend could reignite it. One person died as the blazes quickly burned more than 62 square miles in three days in the Aude wine region in southern France, where hundreds of residents were forced to leave their homes. Local authorities said they need to remain vigilant throughout the weekend because temperatures are expected to rise above 30C (86F) during another heatwave. Aude administrator Christian Pouget said 1,000 people had not yet been able to return to their homes after the fire swept through 15 communes in the Corbieres mountain region, destroying or damaging at least 36 homes. One person died at home and at least 21 others were injured, including 16 firefighters, officials said. Some 1,300 homes were still without electricity on Friday morning after infrastructure was extensively damaged, the Aude prefecture said. Residents have been warned not to return home without permission, as many roads remain blocked and dangerous. Those forced to flee have been housed in emergency shelters across 17 municipalities. Many fled to the community of Tuchan when the fire started on Tuesday, its mayor Beatrice Bertrand said. "We have received and hosted over 200 people. We gave them food, thanks to local businesses who opened their stores despite it being very late," she said. "Civil Protection brought us beds. And also the local villagers offered their homes to welcome them. It was their first night here and many were shocked and scared." An investigation is under way into the cause of the fire. Authorities said the fire was the largest recorded since France's national fire database was created in 2006, but the minister for ecological transition, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, went further, calling the blaze the worst since 1949 and linking it to climate change.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Shocking photos show flames and black smoke at south Essex nature reserve fire
A FIRE that broke out on Wallasea Island and swept through 24.7 acres of field and marshland has been captured in shocking photos. Wallasea Island is reportedly closed following the blaze, which saw crews from three fire stations respond to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) nature reserve yesterday. Shock - The fire was tackled by off-road Fire Service vehicles (Image: Carla Louise Holbrough) Crews used a water bowser and off-road vehicles to extinguish the flames by 5pm with smoke being seen from as far as Aviation Way, in Southend. We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone. Nature - The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. (Image: Carla Louise Holbrough) Crews from Southend, Rayleigh, Basildon, off-road vehicles from Burnham and Billericay and a water bowser from Corringham attended the fire on Creeksea Ferry Road, on Wallasea Island. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Flames - Wallasea Island is reportedly closed following the blaze. (Image: Carla Louise Holbrough) Photos taken at the scene show tractors and large farm machinery framed by huge flames and plumes of black smoke.
BBC News
05-08-2025
- BBC News
Fire brigade called out to rescue Flying Scotsman in Kettering
A fire service described refilling the Flying Scotsman with water as "one of our more unusual call-outs".The famous steam engine was en route to the Greatest Gathering rail event in Derby on Saturday when it had to stop at sidings in Fire and Rescue said it was called after the locomotive's road water tanker broke a social media post, it said one of its carrier vehicles was called after "quick thinking from a Network Rail employee on board" the train. The Greatest Gathering was hosted by train manufacturer Alstom from Friday to than 140 locomotives and railway vehicles were on display as part of Railway 200, a year-long commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the world's first passenger railway fire service said its crews "were proud to assist with a very special operation"."A great example of teamwork across services to keep history steaming ahead," it added. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
