Scotland issued major wildfire warning as blazes sweep nation

As temperatures continue to climb this weekend, has been hit by an 'extreme' warning, with multiple dramatic blazes erupting across the nation.

Emergency services were deployed to combat the unprecedented fires affecting large swathes of land, with both rural and urban areas hit by the fires.

Throughout Friday, emergency services worked around the clock to battle infernos dominating Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire, Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran, and in Thurso, Caithness, with huge plumes of smoke visible for several miles as the skies burned red.

The infernos were so intense, some people were even ordered to evacuate because of the threat, with one Kennel leaping into action to stage a night-time rescue mission to evacuate its animals to a place of safety.

With hotter than usual for Scotland at this time of year, fire chiefs have issued a whole of Scotland extreme wildfire warning, while urging people to act responsibly in this time of crisis.

The warning is currently in place for the next 24 hours, and comes after just 0.2mm of rain has fallen in April so far, well below the 33mm normally recorded. Combined with temperatures sitting at around 4c warmer than usual, it has made for some prime conditions for fire to easily take root.

According to the , Scotland has seen 165 hours of sunshine in the first 11 days of April - around 74% of the total amount that would usually be expected for the entire month. Yet while many Scots will have rejoiced at the weather, it has elevated potentially deadly wildfires to a now daily risk.

The most concerning part of the fires so far, is how widespread they have been, with fires reported at The Gramps, Aberdeen, the Pentlands just outside Edinburgh, Rothesay in the Isle of Bute, and other areas, this week alone.

One standout fire in particular is the large grass blaze that broke out at Fannyside Loch near Cumbernauld on Thursday evening - with firefighters still battling the blaze 24 hours later to try and bring it under control.

It was this fire and it's worth that saw Crowbank Kennels and Cattery forced to evacuate their animals after the fire began to advance on nearby properties, and in a further blow after a successful evacuation owner Eran Yehudai and his wife Fiona were forced to evacuate for a second time, when the blaze began to creep closer to their own home.

Given the unpredictability of the fires, and their risks, Michael Humphreys, the national wildfire lead for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has urged people to act responsibly.

He said: "What we see is the majority of fires, it is human behaviour that starts the fire in the first place."

He urged people heading out to the countryside to think about the risks, adding: "Enjoy the countryside, it is a sunny day today, but act responsibly.

"If you normally use a barbecue maybe think about taking a picnic instead or using a designated area. Take all your litter home, glass can reflect and start a fire and if you do smoke just make sure your cigarette is absolutely fully out."

Although it is far from the height of Summer and temperatures are modest in comparison to later in the year, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have revealed that the vast majority of wildfires they are called to attend happen between March and June as a result of the changing season.

As Winter moves into Spring, there is a large amount of dead vegetation, which when combined with low humidity and sunny weather can lead to it drying out rapidly and becoming a tinderbox waiting to happen.

This means fires can easily ignite, with dry ground and breezy weather amplifying their spread - often with disastrous consequences, for both humans, properties and wildlife.

Ruchir Shah from the said the wildfires are potentially destroying already "threatened habitats such as woodlands and wetlands", which is "disastrous" for wildlife.

The director of external affairs told STV: "It is particularly worrying to see so many fires at this time of year, as many species will be preparing and maintaining nesting sites in order to breed raise their young.

"We would encourage anyone visiting our reserves or other areas in the countryside to be extra careful during this dry spell. Please do not build campfires or discard flammable materials that could worsen the situation.