Fire crews are battling a blaze on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, with thick smoke billowing from the iconic landmark visible across the Firth of Forth in Fife. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was alerted to the fire at approximately 6.38pm on Sunday, July 19, 2026, following calls from the public.
Response and Current Situation
Four fire appliances were scrambled to Holyrood Park to bring the fire under control, according to Edinburgh Live. An image taken from Holyrood shows dense smoke rising up the extinct volcano, while photographs from Fife capture the plume stretching high into the sky above Arthur's Seat.
The SFRS has urged Edinburgh locals not to call Operations Control regarding the incident, as resources are already deployed. A spokesperson stated: “We are currently attending a fire in the open at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. Four fire appliances are at the scene. We were alerted at 6.38pm on Sunday, July 19. There is no need to call Operations Control regarding this incident.”
Context and Recent Wildfires
The blaze comes amid an ongoing wildfire in the Cairngorms, which has been active since Wednesday. Officials reported on Sunday that the inferno had been “surrounded” and that evacuated residents may soon be able to return home. Additionally, the Arthur's Seat fire occurs roughly a year after a large fire scorched a wide area of the hill in August 2025.
Firefighters continue to work to contain the flames, with no immediate reports of injuries or damage to property. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
