A large fire broke out on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh on Sunday evening, spreading rapidly through gorse as the UK contends with a ‘firewave’. The blaze ignited just below Salisbury Crags, near the Palace of Holyroodhouse, at approximately 6:40pm.
Fire visible across the city
Multiple patches of the iconic beauty spot were alight, according to photographs and video from the scene. Plumes of smoke rising from the hillside towered over the city, visible as far away as Fife and Meggetland, one witness told Metro.
Tasha, who filmed the fire and shared it on X, said: ‘We were actually finishing up our dinner and leaving the city when we saw the smoke. I hope it’s under control now, as it seemed to be spreading so fast when we were there.’
No casualties reported
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service reported no casualties and urged locals not to call Operations Control about the fire. Police Scotland said: ‘We are on scene supporting Scottish Fire and Rescue Service with a fire in the open at Arthur’s Seat. Queens Drive at the roundabout near Pollock Halls and down to Dynamic Earth is currently closed. Please use alternative routes if driving in the area.’
The cause of the fire has not been specified, but the Edinburgh Evening News reported it was tearing through gorse, a yellow flowering shrub covering the hillside.
UK battling ‘firewave’
The fire on Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano with views over Edinburgh’s Old Town, broke out during days of hot, dry weather. Experts told Metro the UK is battling a ‘firewave’, when a raft of wildfires break out near towns and cities. Wildfires occur when vegetation like scrubland or forest floor leaves is dried out, becoming tinder for fast-paced fires. Despite the name, most wildfires are ignited by human activity, such as a flicked cigarette butt or arson.
Series of wildfires in Highlands
There has been a series of wildfires in the Highlands this week, including a blaze in Cairngorms National Park that has burned for five days. Six square kilometres of land have been scorched so far, with campsites and a ski resort in the Glenmore Forest Park area evacuated.
