Blaze takes hold on East Lomond

Firefighters battled a wildfire in heather on East Lomond Hill. The blaze could be seen from miles around.

Emergency services raced to the scene at around 10pm on Thursday after being alerted to the large fire.

Four fire crews discovered two separate 100m sections which were well-alight and spent almost two hours putting them out.

The incident follows a fire danger warning from the Scottish Natural Heritage for the north-east, south-east and central parts of Scotland.

The very high fire danger conditions are expected to last until May 24 and countryside users are asked to take extreme care with campfires, cigarettes and disposable barbecues.

Mark Wrightham, SNH’s recreation and tourism manager, said: “It’s great news that the recent warm, dry weather is encouraging more people to get out and about and enjoy our beautiful Scottish countryside.

“But it’s important to bear in mind that fires can spread quickly in these conditions and do lasting damage to nature and wildlife.

“In this weather, we advise people to be careful when lighting fires. Consider using a camping stove instead.

“Be particularly cautious when disposing of cigarettes. Even a cigarette butt can easily start a wildfire.

“One of the biggest risks is disposable barbecues. These should be taken away and got rid of safely in a bin.”