A quick-thinking couple stopped a potential major woodland fire in Balloch after stumbling on the blaze while walking their dog.
Donald Lawson and Amy Sutherland spotted plumes of smoke coming from Whinney Hill Woods on Monday afternoon last week while taking Max for a stroll.
Rushing to the scene, they found six grass fires and dialled 999 immediately.
It happened a week after a major grass fire broke out in the Kilpatrick Hills, which took days to extinguish and spread for over one-a-half miles.
Donald, from Bonhill, said: “We were going up the hill near the power station and noticed smoke beyond the trees on the left so we went to check it out.
“We were shocked by what we saw. There were six individual grass fires. I am sure they had been lit by somebody because I don’t know how they would have happened otherwise.
“I thought I heard voices in the trees too but can’t be sure on that as we didn’t see anyone around.
“We phoned 999 and stayed there until they arrived. I was surprised by how fast it was spreading and the total area must have been around a football pitch in size.
“It hadn’t rained for a while either so the grass was really dry, which would have made it worse.
“There were parts we were able to stamp out with our feet until the fire service arrived.
“It feels quite surreal, looking back at it.
“I’m glad we were there because I dread to think what could have happened. There was no one else around. It would have got really out of hand, like in the Kilpatrick Hills.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Operations Control mobilised one appliance to the scene, where crews worked to extinguish the fire before leaving around 4.04pm.”
