Crews fought five wildfires in 24 hours as wind fans flames

Firefighters on Skye were called out to nine wildfires over three days, included five in 24 hours.

Crews fought five wildfires in 24 hours as wind fans flames SFRS

Firefighters across Scotland’s west coast continue to battle with wildfires in multiple locations.

Crews had to pump water from a loch to help control a blaze on the island of Benbecula.

A fire on Skye, first reported on Friday afternoon, is still being monitored with crews only leaving the hill north of Portree this evening.

Strong winds of above 30mph have been forecasted across areas of the Western Isles including above 40mph in Benbecula and gusts of up to 48mph for Skye on Saturday night.

(SFRS Western Isles Group Commander)

Firefighters on Skye were called out to nine wildfires over three days, included five in 24 hours.

Despite freezing temperatures and snow in large parts of eastern and central parts of the country this week, the west coast and island areas have places full of “bone-dry vegetation…which essentially acts as a fuel for fire”.

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