Firefighters battle gorse blaze on Edinburgh’s
iconic hill as drought raises wildfire fears.
Edinburgh, Scotland — Firefighters worked through
the night to contain a large gorse fire on Arthur’s Seat, the city’s famous
extinct volcano, as dry conditions fuel wildfire risks across Scotland.
Smoke could be seen billowing high above Edinburgh
on Sunday as flames tore through gorse on Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it
was alerted at 4:05 p.m. and deployed four fire engines along with specialist
equipment to battle the blaze.
An SFRS spokesperson confirmed the fire was
affecting a “large area of gorse” and that crews remained on site overnight to
fully extinguish it.
No casualties have been reported, but the fire
prompted concern among residents and visitors who frequent the popular walking
trails and viewpoints.
Arthur’s Seat, standing 251 meters above sea level,
offers sweeping views of the Scottish capital and is a major tourist draw. Its
slopes are dotted with historical landmarks, including the remains of ancient
forts.
Some believe the hill’s name is linked to the
legendary King Arthur, adding to its cultural significance.
The landmark sits just southeast of the city
center, overlooking the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse,
the King’s official Edinburgh residence.
Sunday’s fire comes during an unusually hot and dry
summer for Scotland, which has triggered repeated wildfire warnings from the
SFRS.
Earlier this year, Scottish Water reported the
driest spring since 1964, with daily water shortages reaching 60 million liters
during drought periods.
Projections suggest this shortfall could quadruple
by 2050 if climate change continues unchecked.
Environmental groups have warned that prolonged dry
conditions could make fires at sites like Arthur’s Seat more frequent and
harder to control.
A similar blaze occurred in 2019, when firefighters
spent eight hours tackling flames across roughly 800 square meters of gorse.
Local residents reported seeing smoke from miles
away, with photos shared widely on social media.
Tourism officials stressed that parts of Holyrood
Park may remain closed until fire crews declare the area safe.
The SFRS urged the public to remain vigilant and
report any signs of wildfire immediately, especially during periods of drought.
As crews continued their work late into the night,
the incident served as a stark reminder that even Scotland’s green hills are
increasingly vulnerable to fire.