Smoke can be seen across Edinburgh after a huge wildfire broke out on the beloved landmark Arthur’s Seat.
Emergency services were alerted to the blaze just after 4pm on Sunday, with dramatic pictures showing flames raging on the hill.
People have been advised to avoid the area. No casualties have been reported so far.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Operations control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters are working to extinguish a fire affecting a large area of gorse.”
Reports have suggested people were seen fleeing the area as the flames spread.
Arthur's Seat is a short distance from the Scottish capital’s historic Old Town in Holyrood Park and is popular with tourists for hikes.
The blaze comes after Scotland has suffered days of wildfires this summer.
Earlier in July, parts of the north of the country were hit by wildfires on a “vast scale” which burned for several days, prompting a police investigation.
Key Points
- Huge wildfire breaks out at beloved Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh
- Smoke seen across Edinburgh as fire rages on Arthur's Seat
- People seen 'running down face of hill', according to reports
- Blaze comes after Scotland suffered days of wildfires this summer
In pictures: Huge wildfire breaks out at Arthur's Seat
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Tara Cobham
Scottish fire service full statement
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Tara Cobham
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 4.05pm on Sunday, August 10 to reports of a fire in the open at Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh.
“Operations control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters are working to extinguish a fire affecting a large area of gorse.
“There are no reported casualties at this time and crews remain at the scene.”
Frightened eyewitness tells of watching flames spread as he hurried down hill
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Tara Cobham
A frightened eyewitness has said he watched as the flames spread while he made his way down Arthur’s Seat.
Nick Brice, from Brighton, told BBC Scotland News: "We could see this little plume of smoke on the ridge at the far side and it just got bigger and bigger.
"All of a sudden we could see these flames starting to come up and people noticed it spreading fast.
"The smoke started to really build and then these flames started to cover the ridge and we realised the wind was blowing it right towards us.
"We had to get down to the road fast because it was going to come across the whole area."
Mr Brice said urged people he passed who were still going up the hill to turn around.
He added: "Now the whole hillside is covered in flames and smoke coming down over the path we walked."
Watch: Huge fire sweeps across landmark Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh
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Tara Cobham
Full story: Firefighters continue to tackle wildfire at iconic Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh
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Tara Cobham
Fire crews are in attendance at a blaze on a landmark hill in Edinburgh.
Smoke can be seen billowing into the sky from the ongoing fire at Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano and beauty spot to the south east of the city centre.
The fire was reported at about 4.05pm on Sunday, according to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).
Read the full story here:
Fire at Arthur's Seat six years ago took eight hours to get under control
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Tara Cobham
A similar fire at Arthur’s Seat broke out in 2019.
The fire service spent eight hours battling the affected area of about 800 square metres.
In pictures: Blaze rages on Arthur's Seat
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Tara Cobham
No casualties reported so far, fire service says
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Tara Cobham
No casulaties have been reported so far, according to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
They said in a statement: “There are no reported casualties at this time and crews remain at the scene.”
Four fire trucks sent to scene as firefighters tackle blaze
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Tara Cobham
The Scottish fire service has confirmed that four fire trucks have been sent to the scene of the fire as firefighters tackle the blaze.
An Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 4.05pm on Sunday, August 10 to reports of a fire in the open at Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh.
“Operations control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters are working to extinguish a fire affecting a large area of gorse.”
Edinburgh particularly busy this month
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Tara Cobham
Edinburgh is particularly busy this month as visitors have flocked to the city for annual festivals such as the Fringe.
Oasis fans also descended on the Scottish capital this past weekend as the band put on two nights of shows at Murrayfield stadium.
Blaze comes after Scotland suffered days of wildfires this summer
19:58
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Tara Cobham
The blaze comes after Scotland has suffered days of wildfires this summer.
Earlier in July, parts of the north of the country were hit by wildfires on a “vast scale” which burned for several days, prompting a police investigation.
People seen 'running down face of hill', according to reports
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Tara Cobham
Reports have suggested people were seen fleeing the area as fire spread on Arthur’s Seat.
An eyewitness told Edinburgh Live: "There is a major wildfire on Arthur's Seat which spreading rapidly.
"People are running down the face of the hill to get away from it and smoke is spreading really fast."
Smoke seen across Edinburgh as fire rages on Arthur's Seat
19:41
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Tara Cobham
Smoke can be seen across Edinburgh after the huge wildfire broke out on Arthur’s Seat.
Police and emergency services were called shortly after 4pm and people have been advised to avoid the area.
Full statement from Scotland's fire service
19:40
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Tara Cobham
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement issued just after 5pm this evening: “Crews are in attendance at a fire in the open at Arthur's Seat, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh.
“Members of the public no longer need to alert our Operations Control room about this fire, as we are receiving a number of calls to this incident.”
Huge wildfire breaks out at beloved Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh
19:37
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Tara Cobham
A huge wildfire has broken out on the beloved landmark Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.
Police and emergency services were called shortly after 4pm and people have been advised to avoid the area.
