Firefighters battling Cumnock wildfire that reignited an hour after being extinguished

Fire crews are battling a wildfire in East Ayrshire, which reignited an hour after it was extinguished.

Emergency services were initially called to reports of a wildfire on Rigg Road, Cumnock, at around 11.35am on Thursday.

Six fire engines were sent to the large blaze affecting around 800m of grass.

Crews extinguished the blaze and left the scene at around 3pm, before being called again just over an hour later to the same blaze.

It had reignited, and three appliances remain in attendance.

It comes after SFRS issues an “extreme” risk wildfire warning across the whole of Scotland until Monday, May 19.

Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife, and pose a risk to nearby communities.

The fire service warned that the “vast majority of wildfires” are started by human behaviour, and it has urged the public to avoid lighting fires and using naked flames during the current period of dry weather.

Scotland has seen its driest start to the year in 60 years, with only 59% of the long-term average rainfall from January to April.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 10.51am on Thursday, May 15 to reports of grass on fire near Cumnock, Ayrshire.

“Operations Control mobilised six fire appliances and firefighters extinguished a fire affecting a large area of grass measuring approximately 800 meters squared.

“Crews left the scene at approximately 3.01pm.

“Crews were mobilised again at 4.09pm following reports of re-ignition, and three appliances are currently in attendance.”