Extreme wildfire warning in place for Scotland ahead of bank holiday weekend

An extreme warning for wildfires is in place across Scotland ahead of bank holiday weekend.

It comes after the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service battled a number of fires in the open this week in Aberdeenshire and near Loch Lomond.

Fire chiefs, along with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF), say Scotland faces an extreme risk of wildfires amid sunny weather as temperatures soared from Thursday across many parts.

The extreme warning for the whole of the country remains in place until Saturday.

Those in south-west Scotland had also been warned of a “very high risk” of wildfire from Wednesday.

And people in southern Scotland and the central Highlands have been warned of the “very high risk” of wildfire in the region on Saturday.

Kenny Barbour, head of prevention at the SFRS and chair of the SWF, urged Scots to be responsible during hot and sunny days.

The deputy assistant chief officer said: “Going into the May bank holiday weekend, we will be seeing an extreme risk of wildfire across the whole of Scotland.

“We know people will be wanting to enjoy the good weather, but we ask that they do so responsibly.

“People should avoid lighting outdoor fires and be mindful that one spark can spread, causing a large amount of damage. Remember, there’s no such thing as a harmless fire.”

Mr Barbour added: “Wildfires have the potential to destroy property, landscapes and wildlife, which is why it is so important that members of the public use extreme caution under these conditions.”

He urged people to share the wildfire warnings with their family and friends.

He said those who spot outdoor fires should report them immediately by calling 999, providing their location, and any other relevant information to allow emergency services to respond quickly.