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Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Scotland wildfire warning as fire chiefs say most of country at 'high risk'
The danger assessments will be in place until Monday and members of the public have been urged to behave responsibly in the countryside. Most of Scotland is at 'high risk' from wildfires until Monday, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has warned. A 'very high danger assessment' covering the entire country was issued on Wednesday and is due to expire on Friday. The north of Scotland will be covered by an 'extreme danger assessment' starting on Friday, while the whole mainland will be covered by an 'extreme danger assessment' from Saturday. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) issued the warnings in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF) and urged people who live within or who may enter rural environments to exercise caution. The danger assessments will be in place until Monday and members of the public have been urged to behave responsibly in the countryside. Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife, with blazes ravaging rural areas such as Glen Rosa on the Isle of Arran in April, and can also threaten the welfare of nearby communities. Blazes broke out in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, which were visible from people's homes, and also the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh, last month. Joe Fitzpatrick, an SFRS station commander, said: 'We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame. Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage. 'Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires, as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities. 'These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. 'Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. It comes as a disposable barbecue caused a fire around the size of 'two rugby pitches' in the Trossachs killing nesting birds and other wildlife. Dramatic photos show the devastation caused by the blaze covering two hectares in the Glen Finglas region of the national park on May 3. The disposable grill was found with a charred burger still on top after the blaze took place. Glen Finglas is the biggest Woodland Trust site in the UK. It lies at the heart of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and is part of the Great Trossachs Forest National Nature Reserve. George Anderson of Woodland Trust Scotland said: 'An area roughly the size of two rugby pitches has been devastated, and at this time of year that means hundreds of nesting birds have been killed, along with lizards, slow worms, voles and other wildlife. 'If someone had taken a picnic instead of lighting a barbecue this could all have been avoided.'
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway at 'extreme' risk of wildfires as warm weather continues
Officials are worried there is a high chance of a repeat of the wildfire that destroyed large parts of the Galloway countryside in April. An 'extreme' risk of wildfires has been issued for Dumfries and Galloway. The warm weather and dry conditions has officials worried there is a high chance of a repeat of the wildfire that destroyed large parts of the Galloway countryside in April. And Loch Ken Trust have also expressed concern after encountering 'multiple campfires' at the beauty spot over the course of the weekend. A 'very high' risk of wildfire is now in place for the whole of Scotland, with that being upgraded to an 'extreme' warning from Saturday. Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife; and threaten the welfare of nearby communities. Station Commander Joe Fitzpatrick said: 'We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame. 'Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage. 'Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires - as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities. 'These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. 'Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.' Rangers from Loch Ken Trust had to call the fire brigade out to put out 'one particularly large fire' on the loch's West Bank. A spokesperson said: 'Wildfires can have a devastating effect on the environment and can put lives at risk. We would urge everyone to act responsibly when in the outdoors and please be respectful of the warnings by not lighting fires during restricted periods.'
The National
06-05-2025
- Climate
- The National
Extreme warning for wildfires issued across parts of Scotland
The extreme warnings will be in place until Monday, while a very high warning across the whole of Scotland is in place from Wednesday (Image: Peter Jolly) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. AN EXTREME warning for wildfires has been issued across parts of Scotland over the coming days. A very high warning is in place across the whole of Scotland from Wednesday until Friday. Meanwhile, an extreme warning has been issued on Friday covering the north of Scotland, as well as across mainland Scotland on Saturday. The extreme warnings will be in place until Monday. (Image: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service) The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) urged the public to exercise caution if out and about in rural areas. It comes as a wildfire the size of two football pitches in the Glen Finglas region of the Trossachs was caused by a disposable barbecue. The disposable grill was found with a charred burger still on top after the blaze took place over the weekend. READ MORE: UK Government minister refuses to condemn Israel's ethnic cleansing in Gaza Station commander Joe Fitzpatrick said: "We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame. "Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage. "Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires - as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities. "These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. "Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code." We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We've got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country. Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren't really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse. So that's why we've decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with. The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let's get that debate started! Callum Baird, Editor of The National
STV News
06-05-2025
- Climate
- STV News
'Extreme' wildfire warning issued across Scotland
An 'extreme' wildfire warning has been issued across Scotland after a disposable barbecue caused a blaze the size of around 'two rugby pitches'. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has issued a 'very high to extreme' risk of wildfire warning across Scotland from May 7, until May 12. The very high warning, released in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, covering the whole of Scotland will remain in place until May 9. From May 9 until 12, an 'extreme danger' warning covering the north of Scotland will come into place. Additionally, an extreme danger assessment will come into place from May 10 to 12, covering mainland Scotland. People who live within or who may enter rural environments have been urged to exercise caution. SFRS said: 'wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife; and threaten the welfare of nearby communities.' It comes after a disposable barbecue caused a blaze the size of around '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 on Saturday. The disposable grill was found with a charred burger still on top after the blaze took place. Firefighters battled multiple blazes across Scotland in April including a grass fire that 'decimated' the reptile population at Glen Rosa on the Isle of Arran. Emergency services were called to the grass fire at Glen Rosa on Thursday, April 10, with the fire raging for three days. Three fire engines were sent to the scene of the blaze, which affected an area of grass measuring approximately 600m by 600m. SFRS crews, aided by a helicopter, dropped water over the affected area and eventually extinguished the fire. Station commander Joe Fitzpatrick said: 'We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame. He added that many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause 'significant damage'. He said: 'Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires – as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities. 'These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.' He continued: 'Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.' 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
