Major wildfire warning issued as Scotland braces for 'heatwave'

FIREFIGHTERS have warned there will be a "very high" to "extreme" risk of wildfires in parts of Scotland for the duration of the week.

The warning for north east, central and southern Scotland comes as the country is set to experience some warmer weather in the coming days.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is urging the public to avoid lighting fires outdoors across all areas of Scotland from now until Sunday, May 4.

There is an "extreme" warning in place from Wednesday to Saturday. 

Firefighters have warned wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife while threatening the welfare of nearby communities. 

Area Commander Michael Humphreys, SFRS wildfire lead, said: "We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and avoid using anything involving a naked flame. 

“At this time of year in early spring, we typically have a large volume of dead, bone-dry vegetation across large areas of countryside. This essentially acts as a fuel for fire.

“There are currently vast areas that are tinder dry and vulnerable, which provides all the ingredients for fire to take hold and spread.

A helicopter douses a wildfire on the Isle of Bute (Image: Getty) "Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage. 

"Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires – as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities. 

"Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is imperative we all act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors especially over the coming days of predicted sunshine."

Forecasters expect temperatures to climb into the 20s in some areas of Scotland from Tuesday.

The rise in temperatures has also prompted the Met Office to issue a warning for high pollen levels, with people in certain parts of the country being advised to keep their windows closed to avoid triggering allergies.

Many have dubbed the rise in temperature a "mini-heatwave" but, while the upcoming warmth is significant, it will not be a heatwave in meteorological terms. 

For this, we would need to see at least three consecutive days at or above the "heatwave threshold" which varies depending on where you are in the UK.

The temperature in southern England could hit around 27C. The last time this happened in April was in 2018 in Cambridge.