Residents across large parts of Scotland have been warned to remain vigilant as the fire service raised the wildfire risk to "very high," the most serious warning level, following an extended period of dry weather that has left vegetation tinder-dry and primed to burn.
The warning covers the Highlands, the Western Isles, Argyll, Perthshire and parts of the Cairngorms, areas that include some of Scotland's most ecologically important landscapes. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said the conditions — dry vegetation, low humidity and forecast winds — created a risk that any fire would spread rapidly and be difficult to control.
The warning has prompted the closure of several popular walking routes and the suspension of all controlled burning on estates, including the muirburn that is used to manage heather for grouse shooting. Visitors to affected areas have been asked to avoid lighting any fires, including camping stoves and barbecues, and to report any signs of smoke immediately.
Scotland has experienced a significant increase in wildfire incidents over the past decade, a trend that the Met Office has linked to climate change. The 2025 wildfire season was the worst on record, with a single fire in the Flow Country of Sutherland burning for more than two weeks and destroying approximately 8,000 hectares of internationally important peatland.
The Scottish government has increased funding for wildfire response, including the purchase of specialist equipment and the training of rural fire crews, but fire service leaders have warned that the resources available are insufficient to deal with a major escalation in wildfire activity. They have called for a national wildfire strategy that addresses prevention as well as response.
Join in — free. Comments on Daily Junction are for members, so real names stay rare and bots stay out.
One field. We email you a 6-digit code — no password needed. Your comment is kept while you do it.
Under 13? You’ll need a parent’s OK first — it takes them one click.