Heatwave sets hills ablaze as firefighters tackle flames up to 40ft high

Huge wildfires swept across Scotland yesterday as temperatures soared to be 9C hotter than Madrid.

Crews in the Highlands were faced with a ‘four-mile fire front’ as they tackled one of three major blazes in the region.

It came just hours after plumes of smoke could be seen across Glasgow following a major wildfire at a beauty spot on the outskirts of the city on Thursday.

Experts had warned of an ‘extreme risk’ of wildfires in all low lying areas yesterday as Scotland enjoyed its warmest day of the year so far, with a temperature of 19C recoded at Aultbea, Wester Ross - the third highest in the UK.

In contrast, the mercury in the Spanish capital only hit 10C, with urban areas in the Algarve in Portugal also 2C cooler than parts of Central Belt, where the temperatures reached up to 18C.

The dry and warm conditions meant it was ideal conditions for wildfires, with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service warning it was ‘crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.’

Crews were still battling to bring the fires under control last night after being called out to two within minutes of each other in the early hours.

One of those was a major blaze near Loch Eriboll in Durness, Sutherland, which started just after 5.30am.

Crews in the Highlands were faced with a ‘four-mile fire front’ as they tackled one of three major blazes in the region

Firefighters tackle a large wildfire at Tomfat woods near Inverness.

A fire could be seen above Old Kilpatrick,near Clydebank

A spokesman said: ‘Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances and firefighters are faced with a four-mile fire-front.

‘Firefighters remain on scene as they try to bring the wildfire under control.’

But he said there was ‘no immediate threat to life or nearby property.’

Crews were also called to fire in Garmouth, near Lossiemouth, Moray around the same time when four appliances attended and last night remained on the scene.

Another wildfire occurred just off the B861 between Inverness and Farr around 10.15am when eyewitnesses told of flames shooting 40ft high as crews battled to bring the inferno under control.

SFRS said it mobilised six fire appliances and special resources to the scene, adding that ‘firefighters have made good progress and are bringing the wildfire under control’.

A spokesman added: ‘There is no immediate threat to life or nearby property.’

The wildfires, which could be seen from several miles away, came just hours after another blaze on the Kirkpatrick Hills in West Dumbartonshire on Thursday evening.

Crews were forced to retired after several hours when light began to fade but on their return to the site yesterday morning they confirmed the wildfire, which covered an area of 600m x 600m, had been extinguished.

Locals reported seeing the plumes of smoke from almost ten miles away in Paisley, to the east side of Glasgow.

SFRS said: ‘We were alerted at 2.13pm on Thursday to reports of a wildfire in the Kilpatrick Hills, near Old Kilpatrick in Dunbarton.

‘Firefighters worked to bring the wildfire under control and had to leave due to diminishing light.

‘Firefighters revisited at first light on Friday and found that the fire had extinguished. They left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.’

The balmy temperatures came just two days after the mercury dipped to minus 8.3C overnight in Braemar, Aberdeenshire.

Meteorologist Aidan McGivern said an area of low pressure that has brought unsettled weather across parts of the continent, including Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar, during recent days was now heading closer to the UK.

He said: ‘It’s because of that we have seen southerly winds bringing the warmth of recent days. But it’s also now starting to turn things more unsettled.’

Heavy rain and strong winds are now forecast to sweep across large parts of the country over the weekend, with gales also possible in the North-East.