Extreme wildfire warning given to Southern and Central Scotland
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people to act responsibly as risk of ignition increases.
Last updated 24th Apr 2023
Parts of Southern and Central Scotland are under threat from extreme wildfires, prompting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to urge people to act in a safe manner.
From today until Friday an extreme warning will cover the lower half of Scotland, with parts of the North subject to a very high-risk warning.
A mixture of strong winds, rising temperatures and low humidity levels has seen the risk of wildfire increase considerably. The Spring conditions combined with large areas of dead grass and vegetation means a heightened risk of ignition.
Many wildfires are started deliberately or are due to careless, reckless or irresponsible behaviour and that risk peaks during early Spring.
People who live, work or are visiting rural areas, in particular, are being urged to exercise the utmost caution to avoid fires breaking out.
Wildfire threat "very real"
The SFRS recently launched its new prevention campaign called ‘Care for your Countryside’
SFRS Station Commander, John Harvey said: “The threat of wildfire is very real, and we would therefore ask our communities to act safely and responsibly while in the countryside.
"Wildfire can devastate large areas of our environment and wildlife and has the potential to spread to nearby communities.
"We are asking people to act responsibly when enjoying the outdoors, dispose of cigarettes carefully and please think twice before using anything involving a naked flame."
Use responsible campfire sources
Despite the relatively mild temperatures Spring is traditionally the start of wildfire season in Scotland, with national parks and campsites at highest risk due to the increase in footfall.
Leanne Pumpr, a park ranger from Loch Ken in Galloway, has experience in dealing with the safety of campfires.
She said: "Most of the sites people want to camp or have fires are directly near forests or near a lot of shrubbery and that is a really high risk.
"Last year we put out a few campfires that had been left, which I'm sure the people had thought they'd extinguished, but it just takes a day where there's a little bit of light wind it can reignite it and then can have devastating effects.
"Campfires and disposable barbecues are actually really difficult to put out, you may think that you've extinguished them but it can be smouldering underground even though it looks like it's out."
She added: "If you are going camping use existing camp fire settings which often look like a stone circle with remnants of an extinguished fire in, or portable camping stoves that are on legs so they haven't got direct contact with the ground."
Further information on how to reduce the risk of wildfire can be found here: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/outdoors/wildfires/