Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Lucy Jackson

Is Arthur's Seat still on fire? Everything you need to know about Edinburgh blaze

A view of smoke rising from a fire on Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

FIREFIGHTERS have tackled multiple blazes near Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh following a period of hotter weather.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the first blaze when the alarm was raised at about 6.50pm on May 25.

The fire started in an area of vegetation near the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel, with firefighters remaining on the scene for two days.

A view of a fire close to the ruins of St Anthony's Chapel in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

Clouds of smoke could be seen rising from the area as firefighters tackled the blaze and local residents were advised to keep their windows and doors shut as a precaution.

There were no reports of any injuries.

A multi-agency investigation has now been launched to establish the cause of the fire.

The blaze came as the city felt the heat during the current sunny spell, with a maximum temperature of 25C recorded by the Met Office on Monday.

During the Edinburgh Marathon at the weekend, a number of runners were treated for heat exhaustion.

The Scottish Ambulance Service said 16 people were taken to hospital on Sunday.

Is Arthur's Seat still on fire?

Yes, Arthur's Seat remains on fire.

While the initial large grass blaze, reported at 6.50pm on Monday near the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel, has been extinguished, another blaze has now taken hold.

Firefighters were called to the Queen's Drive side of Holyrood Park at 9.23am on Wednesday o tackle a gorse fire.

A police officer stands beneath the smoke rising from a fire close to the ruins of St Anthony's Chapel in Holyrood Park (Image: Jane Barlow)

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has urged people to take care and avoid lighting open fires in the coming days.

Is Arthur's Seat a volcano?

Arthur's Seat is an ancient, extinct volcano which last erupted around 340 million years ago, during the Carboniferous period.

The volcano has since eroded, meaning that less than half of it now remains.

There is no risk of it erupting again – with the ongoing fire caused by a large grass blaze.

It has an elevation of 251 metres, and is located in Holyrood Park in Edinburgh.

Other parts of the same volcano in the city include Calton Hill and the Castle Rock.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.