Firefighters battle large woodland wildfire for fourth day

Fire crews are still tackling a large wildfire that broke out in West Lothian four days ago.

Emergency services were dispatched to the blaze in a woodland area near Fauldhouse at about 12pm on Saturday.

On Tuesday morning, a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) spokesperson confirmed that three appliances remained at the scene.

It comes as an 'extreme' risk of wildfires was issued until Monday due to the warm, dry weather. — It comes as an ‘extreme’ risk of wildfires was issued until Monday due to the warm, dry weather. Fauldhouse Today

At it’s height 50 firefighters and a helicopter were tackling the fire.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said the incident highlighted the need to reverse cuts to fire and rescue services.

The Scottish Government said it continued to support the SFRS with budget increases.

“The allocation of resources, including equipment and appliances, is, of course, an operational matter for SFRS,” a spokesperson told STV News.

The wildfire broke out as an “extreme” risk of wildfires was issued until Monday due to the warm, dry weather.

People who live within or who may enter rural environments have been urged to exercise caution.

People who live within or who may enter rural environments were urged to exercise caution. Somesortofsponge

The Scottish Greens claimed the fire, as well as the extreme wildfire warning issued across the country, signals that Scotland is on the frontline of the climate crisis.

MSP Ariane Burgess said: “We aren’t even in the height of our summer yet and we are already seeing our woodlands burning and warnings in place across much of the country.

“We should all be grateful to the firefighters who are risking their lives and putting their safety on the line to protect us and our communities.

“It’s not just the immediate threats they face, but also the lifelong increased health risks from exposure to smoke and toxic substances.

“We need to do everything we can to ensure that they are well supported and properly equipped for the growing threats that we face from increasing temperatures. Yet, in some parts of rural and island Scotland the fire service is facing a challenge to fill the crews, and some of their stations are in bad need of upgrade.”

Community safety minister Siobhian Brown said: “As has been shown in recent days, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SRFS) is fully prepared to respond to wildfires and I am grateful to them and other first responders for their outstanding efforts to keep people and property safe.

“We continue to support SFRS with substantial year-on-year budget increases that enable it to deliver the high standard of services required to keep communities safe.

“This year’s Budget includes £412.2m for SFRS – an increase of £18.8m – and Scotland continues to have more firefighters per capita than other parts of the UK.

“The allocation of resources, including equipment and appliances, is, of course, an operational matter for SFRS.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 11.43am on Saturday, May 10, to reports of a large outdoor fire affecting a remote area of forest near Fauldhouse.

“Operations Control currently has four appliances and two high volume pumps at the scene.

“Crews continue to work to extinguish the fire.”