Scotland on alert after wildfires warning

The fire service has warned of an “extreme risk” of wildfires across stretches of Scotland over the coming days.

Alerts are in place across north-east, east, and central Scotland until Saturday, while a wildfire warning also covers western Scotland from Thursday to Saturday, said the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

Firefighters have warned people in rural environments to be careful with naked flames near dry vegetation.

SFRS area commander Bruce Farquharson said people needed to exercise “extreme caution”.

He said: “Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant 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.

“These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of greenhouse gas emissions.”

In February, fire crews tackled two large wildfires in the Western Isles, on the Isle of Benbecula and the Isle of Harris, following a pile-up of dead, bonedry vegetation.

Last April, a wildfire in the Kilpatrick Hills, West Dunbartonshire, took crews hours to extinguish.

Bruce Farquharson.