Grass fire sparks panic on Hillfoots walking route
A major fire on a popular Hillfoots walking route sparked panic as smoke was visible from miles away.
The grass fire was sparked on Law Hill, near Tillicoultry, at around 4pm on Sunday.
Hillwalkers who were on the climb at the time had to be diverted on their way down.
Emergency services asked walkers to avoid the area whilst firefighters attempted to bring the blaze under control.
Crews remained on the hill for almost five hours tackling the flames.
Fire crews were both above and below the fire to guide walkers away.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said:“Operations Control mobilised one fire engine to the area where firefighters made the area safe before leaving the scene at 8.43pm.”
Smoke bellowed in to the sky and was visible from as far away as Kinross.
SFRS Local Senior Officer for Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Fife, Roddie Keith, has warned of the dangers of fires in the open.
He said:“Wild and grass fires can cause significant environmental and economic 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.
“Many people will be enjoying the outdoors in the good weather this week, and we urge everyone to make sure that they don’t increase the chance of wild and grass fires – be aware of the risks and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
“Wild and grass fires can start by the careless disposal of cigarettes and barbecues or campfires left unattended.
“They then have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land, wildlife and threaten the welfare of nearby communities.
“Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a these fires starting so it’s crucial people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and follow the countryside code.”