BEINSMARTSIDE UK Huge wildfire on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh ‘likely started by people’

Huge wildfire on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh ‘likely started by people’

August 10, 2025August 10, 2025 | .. | 0 Comment | 4:24 pm
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An enormous wildfire that has engulfed a famous tourist hotspot in Edinburgh was likely started by people, a fire chief has said.

Smoke can be seen billowing for miles across the Scottish capital after the blaze broke out on Arthur’s Seat on Sunday at 4pm.

The city is currently packed with visitors for the Edinburgh Festival, including the Fringe, and Oasis gigs at the Murrayfield Stadium.

No casualties have been recorded.

In an interview with the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland radio show, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service commander Neil MacLennan said the gorse blaze was ‘challenging’ for his crews.

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Asked how it started, he said: ‘We don’t have specifics … but what we can pretty much be certain of is it would have been some form of human behaviour or intervention of some sort.

‘It’s very rare for any natural wildfires to start in this country.

‘How that manifested we don’t know at this stage but there will have been some form of human interaction and that’s part of the risk for that area – it is a busy area.

‘The risk is there for that type of fire to start.’

A witness told Edinburgh Live: ‘There is a major wildfire on Arthur’s Seat which is spreading rapidly.

‘People are running down the face of the hill to get away from it and smoke is spreading really fast.’

A view of a fire on Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. Picture date: Sunday August 10, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
A view of a fire on Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh (Credits: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
Arthur's Seat Edinburgh: Huge gorse fire breaks out as people 'run down hill' Orange flames can be seen from the top of the iconic landmark in the capital, with one eye witness reporting witnessing people 'running down the hill' as the blaze 'spreads rapidly' picture: @mikeycubed PERMISSION GIVEN TO METRO
One eye-witness reported people ‘running down the hill’ as the blaze ‘spreads rapidly’ (Pictures: @mikeycubed)

One local told Metro: ‘It’s still raging, the flames seem to have spread to the other side now.

‘Luckily, I’m quite far away so didn’t see anyone running away.’

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson confirmed there had been no casualties.

They said: ‘We were alerted at 4.05pm on Sunday, 10 August, to reports of a fire in the open at Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh.

‘Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters are working to extinguish a fire affecting a large area of gorse.

Crews from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service at the scene of a fire on Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. Picture date: Sunday August 10, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
Crews from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service at the scene of a fire on Arthur’s Seat (Pictures: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

‘Two fire appliances currently remain at the scene where crews are continuing to dampen down hotspots.

‘There are no reported casualties at this time.

‘Members of the public are advised to stay away from the area.’

A football match between Hibernian and Kilmarnock went ahead with smoke billowing behind the stadium.

A Police Scotland spokesperson added: ‘Emergency services are responding to a fire at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area.’

What is Arthur’s Seat?

After with the famous castle, Arthur’s Seat is perhaps the most widely recognised landmark in Edinburgh’s skyline.

It’s a popular spot for locals and visitors, with a relatively gentle climb leading to a spectacular view over the city.

Like the rock on which the castle is built, the hill is the remnant of the ancient volcano which shaped the landscape around the Lothians millions of years ago.

The origins of its unusual name are debated, with some scholars suggesting a link to the legend of King Arthur and others arguing it developed from Gaelic – mostly relating to the word ‘ard’, meaning ‘high’.

There have been at least six fires in areas around the 251-metre-high Arthur’s Seat since 2018.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued wildfire warnings this year, with the country seeing a particularly warm and dry summer.

Last month, the Highlands saw the ‘biggest wildfires the country has ever seen’, according to landowners.

Arthur's Seat Edinburgh: Huge gorse fire breaks out as people 'run down hill' Orange flames can be seen from the top of the iconic landmark in the capital, with one eye witness reporting witnessing people 'running down the hill' as the blaze 'spreads rapidly' picture: @mikeycubed PERMISSION GIVEN TO METRO
Huge gorse fire breaks out as people ‘run down hill’ from Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh (Pictures: @mikeycubed)

Scottish Land and Estates (SLE) estimated the fires that broke out in late June and early July affected 29,225 acres (11,827 hectares) – an area almost 30 times bigger than Lanarkshire’s Strathclyde Park.

It came after a huge fire in Druridge Bay, Northumberland was caused by a campfire.

A Northumberland Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: ‘We received reports of a large fire on the dunes at Druridge Bay at 11:54 on Sunday 10 August.

‘The fire is believed to have been started by a campfire, which got out of control. Four appliances and a fogging unit are currently in attendance and the fire is now under control.’

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