Images capture destruction caused by Kilpatrick Hills wildfire during 'extreme' alert

Images have shown the destruction caused by a wildfire which broke out above a village in West Dunbartonshire during an “extreme risk” alert across Scotland.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were alerted to the fire in the Kilpatrick Hills, near Old Kilpatrick in Dumbarton, at around 2.13pm on Thursday, March 20.

One fire engine was initially sent to the scene but crews called for an additional three appliances after assessing the blaze.

Firefighters worked to get the blaze under control but were forced to leave the scene due to loss of light.

On Friday crews returned at first light and found no signs of the fire still burning and left the area.

Firefighters also battled a ten-acre blaze in Lairg and Dornoch on Wednesday, and put the fire out before it had “devastating” consequences.

A blaze also broke out at a park last Monday night in Lower Methill after flames took hold of the land.

A warning went out across Scotland last week over the risk of extreme wildfires bringing the threat of “devastation” to farmland, wildlife and woodland.

SFRS urged people who live within or who may enter rural environments to exercise caution.

A very high danger assessment – released in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF) – came into force in all low-lying areas and the central Highlands on Thursday last week.

On Friday, an extreme danger assessment covered all low-lying areas in Scotland.

Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife, threatening the welfare of nearby communities.