The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) issued a very high wildfire danger assessment, released in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF), covering central and south-west Scotland between Monday 17 March and Wednesday 19 March 20251. The service said a very high risk, moving to an extreme of wildfire, is in place across Scotland until Friday 21 March1.
The assessment moves across the country during the week. The areas covered on each day are set out below.
| Date | Area covered by the very high danger assessment |
|---|---|
| Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 March | Central and south-west Scotland |
| Thursday 20 March | All low-lying areas in Scotland |
| Friday 21 March | Central Highlands |
In addition, an extreme danger assessment is in place for Friday 21 March, covering all low-lying areas in Scotland1. The SFRS said the very high danger assessment remains in place until Friday 21 March1.
Group Commander Murray Dalgleish, a Wildfire Tactical Advisor for the SFRS, said:
"We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame."
The service said wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife, and threaten the welfare of nearby communities1. It said livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires, as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities, and that such fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment through the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere1.
Why it matters for households
The assessment covers people who live within or who may enter rural environments, and the SFRS has urged them to exercise caution1. Group Commander Dalgleish said many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage1. He said human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code1. The service's guidance on wildfires and grass fires sets out what causes them and how they can be prevented, and the heatwaves and drought section covers the wider dry-weather picture.
What happens next
The very high danger assessment remains in place until Friday 21 March, with the extreme danger assessment for all low-lying areas in Scotland also applying on that day1. The SFRS publishes current wildfire danger assessments for each area1.
Wildfires and Grass Fires
