Hot enough to burn your grass
Blaze drama on Edinburgh hill as temperatures soar to 28C
A GRASS fire sent a huge pillar of smoke high over Edinburgh yesterday as the country sweltered.
The blaze on Blackford Hill was reported shortly after 1pm and fire crews battled flames covering an area of about 20 to 30 metres.
A spokesman for the fire service said: “Operations control mobilised two fire engines to the scene and firefighters are tackling the flames. There are no casualties.”
Blackford Hill is located between Morningside and the Braid Hills area and the blaze came after Edinburgh City Council warned over the possibility of grass fires due to the hot and dry weather.
Councillor Karen Doran, environment convener, said: “We’re lucky to have such a diverse landscape here in Edinburgh, with parks, nature reserves and green spaces spanning the city, from the outskirts to the centre.
“While it’s fantastic that so many people are able to enjoy these spots during the sunny weather, it’s important that we take extra care when visiting, in order to keep spaces safe and welcoming for everyone, and the wildlife that lives there.” Today could be the hottest day ever on record in the UK – but Scots will miss out on the extreme heatwave.
Temperatures are set to hit 35C and rise to 37C south of the Border. And there is a chance the mercury could soar as high as the 38.5C all-time UK record, according to the Met Office.
But it will be a tad more comfortable in Scotland, with temperatures in the central belt expected to peak at about 25C. Although the temperatures will be similar to yesterday’s, cloudy skies mean there won’t be as much sun around.
There will also be the chance of the odd thunder storm and, over the weekend, things are expected to cool down a fair bit.
There are likely to be highs of 18C or 19C tomorrow and Sunday, while the likelihood of thunder storms and showers will increase, especially in the central belt.