THERE is a “very high” risk of wildfires across Scotland amid warm weather this weekend, the fire service has warned.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has issued the warning for East, Central and Southern Scotland from Friday until Monday, May 29.
As temperatures increase, the build-up of dead grass and heather from last year pose a heightened risk of fire, the service said.
SFRS has urged people who live, work or visit rural areas to exercise caution over the coming days.
READ MORE: Emergency crews tackle 200-metre wildfire in Highlands
SFRS group commander Niall MacLennan said: "Numerous wildfires across Scotland this spring – including a wildfire at Kinlochmoidart which spanned the course of three days – have shown how real the danger of fire is in the countryside and how damaging it can be to the environment, wildlife and nearby communities.
"With rising temperatures this weekend and further dry conditions into next week, wildfires could burn and spread with very high intensity in high-risk areas.
"Therefore, it is crucial that people act responsibly when enjoying the outdoors and please think twice before using anything involving a naked flame."
Ahead of the warm and dry bank holiday weekend, water scarcity risk has also been raised to “alert level” for the first time this year.
In particular, the area around Loch Maree in the Highlands has recorded very low river flows.
The head of water and planning at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Nathan Critchlow-Watton, said: “With very little to no rainfall forecast across Scotland in the coming days, we expect ground conditions to continue getting drier and river flows to decrease or remain low.
“The next few weeks and months are a crucial time of year for water demand and we’re urging abstractors to manage water wisely, minimising the need for restrictions to be imposed by SEPA.”
SEPA added that due to climate change, businesses are experiencing the impacts of more frequent extreme weather events, such as water scarcity, and are urged to increase their resilience.
In the near future, the occurrence of serious droughts are projected to increase from an average of one every 20 years, to one every two years.
If you see a fire, however small, call 999 immediately.
For advice on how to prevent wildfires, visit: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/outdoors/wildfires/
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here