The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), working with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF), issued wildfire warnings for parts of Scotland for the weekend of 23 to 26 April 2026, the service announced on 23 April 20261.
Western Scotland has a very high risk of wildfire from Thursday 23 April, rising to an extreme risk from Friday 24 April to Sunday 26 April. Central and Eastern Scotland have a very high risk of wildfire from Friday 24 April to Sunday 26 April1.
| Area | Dates | Risk level |
|---|---|---|
| Western Scotland | Thursday 23 April | Very high |
| Western Scotland | Friday 24 April to Sunday 26 April | Extreme |
| Central and Eastern Scotland | Friday 24 April to Sunday 26 April | Very high |
Kenny Barbour, SFRS Head of Prevention and SWF Chair, said:
"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. Remember, there's no such thing as a harmless fire."
The service said wildfires have the potential to destroy property, landscapes and wildlife. It asked people to share the warnings with family, friends and visitors, and to report any large outdoor fire immediately by calling 999 with their location and any other relevant information so crews can respond quickly1. The announcement also links to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code1.
Why it matters for households
The warnings cover households in Western, Central and Eastern Scotland, with the Western area facing the highest level, extreme, from Friday 24 April through Sunday 26 April1. The service's advice for people in the affected areas is to avoid lighting outdoor fires and to be aware that a single spark can spread and cause a large amount of damage1. It also asks people to pass the warnings on to family, friends and visitors, and to call 999 if they see a large outdoor fire, giving their location and other relevant details1. The service's guidance on wildfire risk and prevention sets out how fires start and how they can be prevented, and the heatwaves and drought hub covers related dry-weather guidance.
What happens next
The warnings run to Sunday 26 April 2026. No further update beyond that period has been reported1.
Wildfires and Grass Fires
