SCOTLAND is an “extreme” alert for wildfires after four terrifying blazes ravaged parts of the country in the space of two weeks.
The sunny, dry weather this week has prompted a warning from fire chiefs that more fast-spreading flames could erupt this month.
Ribbons of orange flames engulfed the Kilpatrick hills last month[/caption]
The wildfire broke out on March 20[/caption]
Firefighters tackled a large inferno at Tomfat Woods near Inverness on March 21[/caption]
Yesterday crews raced to extinguish a blaze in Midlothian[/caption]
Spring has traditionally been the peak for outdoor infernos, but it’s feared that summer will soon become a hotspot too.
New figures show almost 80 per cent of large outdoor fires since 2010 were recorded between March and May.
Spring officially started on March 20, and since then there have been four major wildfires that have ignited and spread across huge swathes of land in Scotland’s countrysides.
Emergency crews scrambled to Kilpatrick Hills on March 20 to try and extinguish a huge blaze that broke out at 4pm.
Dramatic drone footage showed the moment that the fire started spreading through the Scottish beauty spot as plumes of thick white and grey smoke billowed into the sky.
Firefighters called it a “significant grass fire” and sent four appliances to the scene as orange flames stretched for miles as they engulfed the hills.
So far we’ve been lucky and we’ve not lost anyone. But you can imagine a situation where somebody’s in the wrong place at the wrong time
Professor Robin Pakeman
The following day, a second wildfire erupted in a wooded area in Inverness after a week of dry and bright weather.
The Tomfat Woods between Culduthel and Inverarnie went up in flames with shocking images showing crews fighting to keep it under control.
Two huge infernos also broke out in Scotland yesterday – one in Midlothian and the other in West Dunbartonshire.
Fire crews raced to battle a gorse fire on the hills near Midlothian Snowsports Centre Hillend at 9.23am.
One fire engine was deployed to the scene as reports of a grass fire came in – but the crew called for backup after being met with huge flames and three more were sent to the scene.
Later on in the evening freighters were called to Cochno Reservoir as bright orange flames tore through the hillside.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) scrambled four appliances to tackle the inferno at the beauty spot at around 5.30pm.
Fire chiefs have now warned that there is a “very high” to “extreme” risk of wildfire across Scotland over this week.
The warning is in place from today until Monday, April 7, and Scots have been urged to avoid lighting fires outdoors during this time.
Group Commander Garry Douglas, an SFRS tactical adviser, said: “During any period of heightened risk, fires can ignite easily, spread very quickly, and burn with high intensity.
We want to be ready and prevent it with better information. It’s quite crazy how a small thing can suddenly get out of control
Professor Robin Pakeman
“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.
“Human behaviour is the cause of most wildfires in Scotland, so it is imperative we all act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors, especially over the coming days of predicted sunshine.
“By following some simple but key advice, we can significantly reduce the risk of wildfire occurring.”
It comes after scientists warned that the danger of wildfires is increasing in Scotland.
Professor Robin Pakeman from The James Hutton Institute has said it is “becoming more common” across the country and urged people to act now before there are tragic fatalities.
Six common causes of wildfires
THE Scottish Fire and Rescue Service describes wildfires as ‘large, uncontrolled outdoor fires exceeding 1,000 square metres of burned area on appropriate land types’.
Such blazes usually occur in areas with combustible vegetation that fuels rapid spread.
They’re now happening from spring into summer and can destroy property as well as kill animals and their habitats.
These are the six most common causes of wildfires:
1. UNATTENDED FLAMES – Includes BBQs, campfires and bonfires left unattended or not extinguished. a small spark can ignite dry leaves leading to a fire.
2. GLASS BOTTLES – Sunlight shining through a bottle can act like a magnifying glass, focusing heat and igniting dry materials nearby.
3. HOT & DRY WEATHER – Prolonged periods of hot, dry weather create a tinderbox environment, where even a small spark can easily ignite a wildfire.
4. DROPPED CIGARETTE – Even a seemingly extinguished cigarette can reignite and spark a fire in dry conditions.
5. COLD, DRY AND SUNNY WEATHER – Believe it or not, cold, dry days with strong sun can be risky. The combination of low humidity and strong winds can quickly dry out vegetation and fuel wildfires.
6. CONTROLLED BURNS GONE WRONG – Planned burns are sometimes used to manage land, but they can spiral out of control if not done properly.
The plant ecologist said: “It does seem to be becoming more common. They can move quite quickly, and fairly scarily. And in recent years we’ve had some really quite big ones.
“Typically it’ll burn grass fields around houses and farms then peters out when it gets there.
“So far we’ve been lucky and we’ve not lost anyone. But you can imagine a situation where somebody’s in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
One of the major issues in Scotland is the abundance of peat, which makes fires “burn hotter.”
Professor Pakeman added: “Most wildfires flash through and burn the vegetation, but occasionally some get into the peat.
“If that goes into the peat, that means you’re burning back hundreds of thousands of years of soil, peat and carbon. And then these are starting from something that’s really difficult to re-vegetate.
“It’s where we can avoid the circumstances that create that. If somebody died in a wildfire, then it would immediately be top of the agenda and we don’t want that.
“We want to be ready and prevent that with better information. It’s quite crazy how a small thing can suddenly get out of control.”
Last night a huge wildfire broke out at Cochno Reservoir and Kilpatrick Hills[/caption]
SFRS have issued an ‘extreme’ warning for wildfires across the whole of Scotland[/caption]
