Latest news with #ScottishFireAndRescue
BBC News
19 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Lanarkshire YMCA building destroyed by fire
A disused YMCA building in North Lanarkshire has been wrecked by was hurt in the blaze, which broke out at about 22:30 on and Wishaw MSP Clare Adamson said on social media that the building - which had been out of use since 2018 - was "destroyed" by the are advised to avoid the area and surrounding streets while investigations by the emergency services continue. The MSP wrote: "While the building itself was no longer in use, my main concern is for the safety of those living or working nearby, the staff and volunteers of the YMCA."I sincerely hope everyone in the surrounding area is safe and unharmed."A Scottish Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 10.35pm on Sunday, 10 August, to reports of a building on fire at Belhaven Terrace, Wishaw."Operations Control mobilised six fire appliances and one height vehicle to a fire affecting a derelict building."There are currently two fire appliances at the scene and there are no reported casualties at this time."
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Arthur's Seat fire: Human activity likely cause, says fire service
A large fire on Arthur's Seat in the centre of Edinburgh was almost certainly sparked by human activity, a Scottish Fire and Rescue service group commander has said. Neil MacLennan said that the exact cause of the blaze was not yet known but that a deliberate act could not be ruled out. The fire, which spread rapidly across the hill in Holyrood Park on Sunday afternoon, was brought under control overnight. The area was evacuated as the flames spread and there were no reported casualties. Mr MacLennan said the "challenging" fire spready quickly through gorse and heather on the steep hillside. Asked how the blaze started, he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland: "We don't have specifics … but what we can pretty much be certain of is it would have been some form of human behaviour or intervention of some sort. "It's very rare for any natural wildfires to start in this country."How that manifested we don't know at this stage but there will have been some form of human interaction and that's part of the risk for that area – it is a busy area. "The risk is there for that type of fire to start." Arthur's Seat rises above Edinburgh from near the Scottish Parliament. Offering views of the city, it is a popular climb for locals and visitors. The hill also caught fire in February 2019, with dozens of firefighters working through the night to extinguish a large gorse blaze. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued several wildfire warnings this year, with the country seeing a particularly warm and dry that burned across moorland at Carrbridge and Dava in the Highlands earlier this summer have been called the biggest wildfires Scotland has ever seen. Why are wildfires more common? Professor Rory Hadden, chair of fire science at the University of Edinburgh, agreed that most wildfires in Scotland were caused by human told Good Morning Scotland: "Some of these can kind just be people in the countryside trying their best to enjoy themselves and making some mistakes."Prof Hadden said wildfires in Scotland were becoming larger, more common and more difficult to put out. With climate change was causing more extreme heat in the summer and milder temperatures in winter, the expert said this led to the growth of more vegetation, providing more "fuel" for fires. He added that changes in land use, such as an increase in rewilding as well as rural depopulation, were also contributory factors. The fire service said four appliances and specialist resources were sent to Arthur's Seat after the alarm was raised at about 16:05 on said two appliances remained at the scene on Monday.
Sky News
a day ago
- Sky News
Firefighters continue to battle blaze at Edinburgh landmark Arthur's Seat
Firefighters are continuing to battle a large blaze at the Edinburgh landmark, Arthur's Seat. Crews worked through the night to put out the fire, which began on Sunday afternoon. Two appliances were at the scene at 6.30am on Monday, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said, after emergency services were first called at around 4.05pm. Smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from the hill, an extinct volcano in Holyrood Park, just a short distance from Edinburgh's historic Old Town to the southeast of the city centre. Four fire engines and specialist resources were sent to the incident on Sunday, which was "affecting a large area of gorse", a type of shrub, the service said. Climbing Arthur's Seat to enjoy views of the city is a popular activity for tourists and locals alike. Police Scotland advised motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area. The cause of the blaze is currently unclear. "There are no reported casualties at this time and crews remain at the scene," an SFRS spokesperson said on Sunday evening. Edinburgh is especially busy this month thanks to the return of annual festivals including the Fringe. This weekend has also seen Oasis fans descend on the Scottish capital as Liam and Noel Gallagher's band performed two nights at Murrayfield stadium.
The Independent
a day ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Edinburgh fire live: Arthur's Seat in flames with smoke seen for miles across city
Smoke can be seen across Edinburgh after a huge wildfire broke out on the beloved landmark Arthur's Seat. Emergency services were alerted to the blaze just after 4pm on Sunday, with dramatic pictures showing flames raging on the hill. People have been advised to avoid the area. No casualties have been reported so far. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'Operations control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters are working to extinguish a fire affecting a large area of gorse.' Reports have suggested people were seen fleeing the area as the flames spread. Arthur's Seat is a short distance from the Scottish capital's historic Old Town in Holyrood Park and is popular with tourists for hikes. The blaze comes after Scotland has suffered days of wildfires this summer. Earlier in July, parts of the north of the country were hit by wildfires on a 'vast scale' which burned for several days, prompting a police investigation. In pictures: Huge wildfire breaks out at Arthur's Seat Tara Cobham11 August 2025 03:00 Scottish fire service full statement A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) spokesperson said: 'We were alerted at 4.05pm on Sunday, August 10 to reports of a fire in the open at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh. 'Operations control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters are working to extinguish a fire affecting a large area of gorse. 'There are no reported casualties at this time and crews remain at the scene.' Tara Cobham11 August 2025 02:00 Frightened eyewitness tells of watching flames spread as he hurried down hill A frightened eyewitness has said he watched as the flames spread while he made his way down Arthur's Seat. Nick Brice, from Brighton, told BBC Scotland News: "We could see this little plume of smoke on the ridge at the far side and it just got bigger and bigger. "All of a sudden we could see these flames starting to come up and people noticed it spreading fast. "The smoke started to really build and then these flames started to cover the ridge and we realised the wind was blowing it right towards us. "We had to get down to the road fast because it was going to come across the whole area." Mr Brice said urged people he passed who were still going up the hill to turn around. He added: "Now the whole hillside is covered in flames and smoke coming down over the path we walked." Tara Cobham11 August 2025 01:00 Watch: Huge fire sweeps across landmark Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh Tara Cobham11 August 2025 00:00 Full story: Firefighters continue to tackle wildfire at iconic Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh Fire crews are in attendance at a blaze on a landmark hill in Edinburgh. Smoke can be seen billowing into the sky from the ongoing fire at Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano and beauty spot to the south east of the city centre. The fire was reported at about 4.05pm on Sunday, according to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). Read the full story here: Smoke can be seen for miles across the Scottish city Tara Cobham10 August 2025 23:00 Fire at Arthur's Seat six years ago took eight hours to get under control A similar fire at Arthur's Seat broke out in 2019. The fire service spent eight hours battling the affected area of about 800 square metres. Tara Cobham10 August 2025 21:53 In pictures: Blaze rages on Arthur's Seat Tara Cobham10 August 2025 21:20 No casualties reported so far, fire service says No casulaties have been reported so far, according to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. They said in a statement: 'There are no reported casualties at this time and crews remain at the scene.' Tara Cobham10 August 2025 21:00 Four fire trucks sent to scene as firefighters tackle blaze The Scottish fire service has confirmed that four fire trucks have been sent to the scene of the fire as firefighters tackle the blaze. An Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'We were alerted at 4.05pm on Sunday, August 10 to reports of a fire in the open at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh. 'Operations control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters are working to extinguish a fire affecting a large area of gorse.' Tara Cobham10 August 2025 20:40
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Drone footage of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh on fire
Drone footage shows Edinburgh's Arthur's Seat ablaze, with smoke visible across the city. The fire broke out around 4pm on Sunday (10/08) in Holyrood Park, prompting multiple calls to emergency services. Scottish Fire and Rescue urged the public to avoid the area and said no further alerts were needed as crews tackled the blaze. Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano and popular beauty spot, rises 250 metres above sea level and offers panoramic city views. Solve the daily Crossword
