Firefighters Battle Weekend Wildfires Across Scotland Amid Extreme Warnings

Firefighters have tackled a series of weekend blazes across Scotland, with an extreme warning for wildfires in place in parts of the country. Grass fires broke out at Loch Lomond, on the Isle of Skye and near Lochinver in the Highlands on Saturday afternoon. In Aberdeenshire, a fire that spread across a beach in Peterhead is being treated as deliberate by police. The Scottish Fire and rescue Service (SFRS) said an 'extreme' wildfire warning for Western Scotland, and a 'very high' warning for central and eastern areas would remain in place until midnight. No injuries have been reported from any of the incidents. At Tarbet near Loch Lomond, fire crews were alerted at about 14:45 on Saturday to an "established blaze" behind the village. Four crews and a specialist team fought the flames for nine hours leaving just after 00:30, before being called back at 06:15 on Sunday. On the banks of Loch Fionn near Lochinver a five mile blaze was reported just before 14:00 on Saturday. The Assynt Foundation, which manages the land, and workers from neighbouring estates used leafblowers to help extinguish the flames. Three fire crews attended and were on scene for more than two hours. On the Isle of Skye at 14:30 a small grass fire took hold near Struan and was put out by three crews within two hours. Meanwhile, on Ugie Beach in Peterhead, three fire engines were sent to a blaze just before 21:00. It was extinguished by about 23:00. Police Scotland said it was being treated as deliberate and inquiries were ongoing. The incidents come after the SFRS warned that Scotland is facing a serious and escalating threat from wildfires. SFRS head of prevention, Kenny Barbour, said the public should use "extreme caution" during these conditions. He added: "People living in the impacted areas should avoid lighting outdoor fires and be mindful that one spark can spread causing a large amount of damage. "Share wildfire warnings with your family, friends, and visitors. "And if anyone spots a large outdoor fire, please report it immediately by calling 999, providing your location, and any other relevant information so we can respond quickly." A new strategy has been rolled out during Scotland's busiest three months for wildfires. The fire service has invested in new equipment and expanded a scheme where volunteers and equipment from local communities are used to help tackle blazes. SFRS data shows that since 2010, a total of 80% of the recorded large outdoor fires occurred between the months of March and May. These months are a critical period because the dead ground vegetation left over from winter can act as a fuel for fires, temperatures are rising and there is an increase in the number of people spending time outdoors.