The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), working with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, issued a "very high" to "extreme" risk of wildfire warning covering all areas of Scotland from Wednesday 2 April until Monday 7 April 20251. The announcement was published on 1 April 20251. It is the third wildfire warning issued in 2025, a period the service links to sunshine forecast for most of the week1.
The service is urging the public to avoid lighting fires outdoors across all areas of Scotland during this period1. Group Commander Garry Douglas, one of the SFRS tactical advisors, set out why the risk is elevated at this time of year:
"At this time of year in early Spring, we typically have a large volume of dead, bone-dry vegetation across large areas of countryside. This essentially acts as a fuel for fire."
He added that there are currently vast areas that are tinder dry and vulnerable, which provides all the ingredients for fire to take hold and spread, and that during any period of heightened risk fires can ignite easily, spread very quickly and burn with high intensity1. He said human behaviour is the cause of most wildfires in Scotland, so it is imperative that people act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors, especially over the coming days of predicted sunshine1.
The SFRS advises people to always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and says it has a range of safety advice for wildfire prevention on its website, firescotland.gov.uk1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issued by | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, with the Scottish Wildfire Forum1 |
| Risk level | "Very high" to "extreme"1 |
| Area | All areas of Scotland1 |
| In force | Wednesday 2 April to Monday 7 April 20251 |
| Position in 2025 | Third warning of the year1 |
| Announced | 1 April 20251 |
Why it matters for households
The warning covers all of Scotland for six days, from 2 to 7 April, and coincides with forecast sunshine across most of the country1. The service says the dead, bone-dry vegetation typical of early spring acts as fuel, and that fires can ignite easily, spread very quickly and burn with high intensity during a heightened risk period1. Its advice for this period is that the public avoid lighting fires outdoors anywhere in Scotland, and that people always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code1. The service states that human behaviour causes most wildfires in Scotland1. Households in or near rural and countryside areas are within the area covered by the warning, which applies to all of Scotland rather than to named regions1. The guide to wildfires and grass fires sets out risk and prevention information, and the heatwaves and drought hub covers the wider seasonal picture.
What happens next
The warning runs until Monday 7 April 20251. No further update, extension or cancellation has been reported.
Wildfires and Grass Fires
