Latest news with #ScottishFireandRescueServiceGroup
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Record
Expert warning over discarded litter sparking wildfires like Arthur's Seat blaze
The extinct volcano in the capital was ablaze over the weekend. A huge wildfire at Arthur's Seat over the weekend sent shockwaves through the capital. Smoke could be seen billowing from the renowned Edinburgh beauty spot on Sunday afternoon, August 10. As of last night, Monday, August 11, fire crews were still battling the blaze, more than 24 hours after it had been sparked. The fire had engulfed large areas of the extinct volcano close to the city centre. Thankfully, 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 exact cause of the fire is not yet known but Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Group Commander Niall MacLennan said that "the majority of this nature are started by human behaviour." And experts have warned that something as simple as dropping litter could spark a huge blaze like the one that has engulfed Arthur's seat. While everyone should be respectful of beauty spots and our cities and countries and pick up their rubbish anyway, it is especially crucial in this current climate. With Scotland forecast for scorching weather this week while much of the UK enjoys a heatwave, absentmindedly tossing away some litter could have more damaging consequences than just making somewhere look a bit worse. The glass waste experts at have warned that litter, especially glass, left strewn in direct sunlight and near grass can quickly ignite and cause a wildfire. Wildfires are on the rise, with research finding that the UK had already surpassed annual records for the area of land burnt by these blazes by April this year. There have been 175 this year, burning an area more than twice the size of Glasgow. With climate change wreaking havoc with our weather, these fires have become more common. And glass waste can have a big impact on this. Any glass that is clear or curved, like most booze bottles, can act as a magnifying glass in direct sunlight, focusing the sunlight on a small spot and igniting a fire when it reaches a certain temperature. If it's dry and windy in the area, the blaze can spread quickly. While this may seem unlikely, a senior park ranger said the likely cause of a wildfire that devastated the Isle of Arran earlier this year was a discarded glass bottle. The Business Waste team have urged anyone enjoying the great outdoors to take any glass rubbish home with them to avoid any risk of causing a wildfire. Even at home, people should be careful when disposing of bottles on top of an open bin. If your litter leads to a fire, and it is deemed 'deliberate' or 'reckless', then it could be classed as arson under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, which could result in a criminal record, unlimited fines, and even a prison sentence. Graham Matthews, glass waste expert at said: 'Many people aren't aware of the danger discarded glass poses. But as the weather heats up, it's essential that the public are careful with all waste. "We know that climate change is only escalating the risk of wildfires across the UK, and we have seen many concerning instances of just a single glass bottle being responsible for burning huge swathes of the countryside. 'We urge people to be responsible and considerate with any glass waste, both in and outside the home. You should always take your litter with you regardless, but the consequences are so much higher in hot, dry weather. "While leaving glass bottles unattended or littered may seem like a simple moment of carelessness, the lasting impact on our environment can be huge.' Speaking about the Arthur's Seat fire, SFRS Group Commander Niall MacLennan 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 a fire affecting a large area of gorse. 'We currently have three fire appliances and specialist resources at the scene where firefighters are continuing to dampen down hotspots. There are no reported casualties at this time. Members of the public are advised to stay away from the area.' He added: '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." 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'.
Edinburgh Live
4 days ago
- Climate
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Arthur's Seat blaze continues 24 hours on as fire crews remain at scene
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Edinburgh fire crews are continuing to battle a massive blaze at Arthur's Seat which broke out Sunday afternoon. A number of firefighters remain at the scene of the popular outdoor attraction as a small area of the hill remains alight with smoke continuing to billow into the sky, reports The Record. Emergency services raced to the scene around 4.05pm on August 10 after huge flames engulfed large areas of the extinct volcano in Holyrood Park to the south-east of the city centre. Four fire engines and specialist resources were dispatches to the scene with crews battling the blaze into the early hours on Monday. No casualties have been reported and the cause of the blaze was likely started by human activity, according to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Group Commander Niall MacLennan. He said: 'We were alerted at 4.05pm on Sunday, 10 August, to reports of a fire in the open at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh. 'Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to a fire affecting a large area of gorse. 'We currently have three fire appliances and specialist resources at the scene where firefighters are continuing to dampen down hotspots. "There are no reported casualties at this time. Members of the public are advised to stay away from the area.' He added: '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." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. Historic Environment Scotland who managed the park have also confirmed the High Road will remain closed until at least Friday. A spokesperson for HES 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.'
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Record
Arthur's Seat blaze continues as firefighters battle to bring fire under control
Arthur's Seat blaze continues as firefighters battle to bring fire under control The cause of the blaze was likely started by human activity, according to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Group Commander Niall MacLennan. (Image: SWNS) Firefighters in Edinburgh are continuing to battle a huge blaze at Arthur's Seat which broke out yesterday afternoon. A number of fire crews remain at the scene of the popular outdoor attraction as a small area of the hill remains alight with smoke continuing to billow into the sky. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 4.05pm on August 10 after huge flames engulfed large areas of the extinct volcano in Holyrood Park to the south-east of the city centre. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent four fire engines and specialist resources to the scene, with crews battling the inferno into the early hours. No casualties have been reported and the cause of the blaze was likely started by human activity, according to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Group Commander Niall MacLennan. The blaze burned through the night. (Image: PA) He said: 'We were alerted at 4.05pm on Sunday, 10 August, to reports of a fire in the open at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh. 'Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to a fire affecting a large area of gorse. 'We currently have three fire appliances and specialist resources at the scene where firefighters are continuing to dampen down hotspots. "There are no reported casualties at this time. Members of the public are advised to stay away from the area.' He added: '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." 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. Historic Environment Scotland who managed the park have also confirmed the High Road will remain closed until at least Friday. A spokesperson for HES 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.' Article continues below
Euronews
4 days ago
- Climate
- Euronews
Firefighters battle large gorse fire on Edinburgh hillside
Firefighters in Scotland battled a large brush fire overnight into Monday that broke out on a landmark hill overlooking Edinburgh, with burning gorse bushes sending plumes billowing into the sky. The fire broke out on Arthur's Seat, a large extinct volcano whose sweeping views over Edinburgh make it one of the city's most popular landmarks. Sunday's fire came as the city started the annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest performance arts festival. Emergency services were alerted to the blaze late on Sunday afternoon and crews worked through the night to control the blaze. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Group Commander Niall MacLennan said the fire affected a large area of gorse bushes, which are thorny evergreen shrubs. The cause of the blaze remains unclear. Rory Hadden, an expert in fire science in the engineering department at the University of Edinburgh, said most fires in Scotland are started by human actions and noted that Arthur's Seat was very busy on Sunday. "The large number of people visiting and the very dry conditions are therefore a good mix for a wildfire to start and to spread," he said. Hadden said wildfires in and around Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh occur relatively often. He added that wildfires are becoming more frequent in the UK due to climate and land use changes. A similar fire broke out on Arthur's Seat in 2019, when firefighters battled a blaze there for eight hours.
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- Climate
- South Wales Guardian
Firefighters remain at scene of Arthur's Seat blaze
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 4.05pm on August 10. Fire crews worked through the night tackling the blaze and three appliances were still dealing with the incident by late morning on Monday. Smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from the hill, an extinct volcano in Holyrood Park to the south-east of the city centre. Experts said that most wildfires in Scotland are caused by the actions of people, whether malicious or otherwise. 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. Dr Rory Hadden, Rushbrook senior lecturer in fire investigation at the University of Edinburgh, said wildfires are becoming more frequent due to climate and land use change. He said there needs to be more awareness of wildfire risk and that careful thought must be given to how landscapes are managed and how to minimise the consequences of wildfires when they do happen. Dr Hadden said: 'Wildfires in and around Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh occur relatively often. Like this one, these typically burn relatively small areas (compared to other wildfires in Scotland) but can have relatively large impacts due to the location and proximity to people – the plume of smoke can exacerbate respiratory conditions as well as the direct danger to those on the hill. 'It has been very dry in Edinburgh this year. This means that vegetation – particularly dead growth from previous years – is very dry. The weather in Edinburgh has been reasonably good recently (sunny and warm) but with quite strong winds. 'This all acts to dry out even more of the dead vegetation, making it easy to ignite – and once ignited, for the fire to spread rapidly. Especially on the steep terrain of Arthur's Seat. 'The location is popular with visitors and locals alike and with it being a nice day yesterday it was very busy. We know that most fires in Scotland are started by the actions of people (malicious or otherwise). 'The large number of people visiting and the very dry conditions are therefore a good mix for a wildfire to start and to spread. But it is too early to identify the specific cause of the fire in this instance. 'More generally we are seeing increases in wildfires in the UK due to climate and land use change.'
