'Extremely dangerous and reckless' Thurso wildfires treated as deliberate say police

Police say two “extremely dangerous and reckless” wildfires in the Highlands are being treated as deliberate.

Officers are appealing for information after two large-scale fires were set on moorland above John Kennedy Drive in Ormlie, Thurso.

The fires were reported to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) around 3.30pm on Thursday, April 10 and 4pm on Friday, April 11.

Crews extinguished several wildfires across Scotland in the past few weeks during an “extreme” warning.

Police say the setting of fires was an “extremely dangerous and reckless act” given the proximity to local houses.

A Police Scotland statement: “We are appealing for information in relation to two large scale fires set on moorland above John Kennedy Drive, Ormlie, Thurso.

“The fires were reported to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service around 3.30pm on Thursday, April 10 and 4pm on Friday, April 11.

“This was an extremely dangerous and reckless act, especially so given the very high and extreme wildfire risks we have been facing recently and the proximity to local houses.

“If you have any information or saw people setting fires, please get in touch with us via 101 or online, quoting incident 2263 of April 10, 2025.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said on Friday: “We were alerted at 2.30pm on Friday, April 11, to reports of a fire in the open in Thurso Moors, near Moorside Avenue, Thurso.

“Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances where firefighters worked to extinguish a fire affecting a large area of gorse and heather measuring approximately 250 metres.”

They added: “We were alerted at 10.25am on Friday, April 11 to reports of smoke at the rear of John Kennedy Drive, Thurso.

“Operations Control mobilised one appliance to the scene, where crews extinguished pockets of smoke in the undergrowth.

“Crews had been in attendance at the scene on Thursday April 10, where they worked to extinguish a fire in the open.

“At its height, four appliances were working in the moorland area.”