The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), working with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF), issued wildfire warnings for areas of Scotland ahead of the May Bank Holiday weekend on 29 April 20261. The warnings cover South West Scotland from Wednesday 29 April, the whole of Scotland from Thursday 30 April, and Southern Scotland and the Central Highlands from Saturday 2 May1.
The SFRS set out the risk by area and date as follows1:
| Area | From | Risk level |
|---|---|---|
| South West Scotland | Wednesday 29 April | Very high |
| Whole of Scotland | Thursday 30 April, in place until Friday 1 May | Extreme |
| Southern Scotland and Central Highlands | Saturday 2 May | Very high |
Kenny Barbour, SFRS Head of Prevention and SWF Chair, said the service expected an extreme risk of wildfire across the whole of Scotland over the bank holiday weekend, and that people would want to enjoy the good weather but were asked to do so responsibly1.
"People 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 SFRS also asked the public to share wildfire warnings with family, friends and visitors, and to report any large outdoor fire immediately by calling 999 with their location and other relevant information so crews can respond quickly1. It said wildfires have the potential to destroy property, landscapes and wildlife1.
The service noted that the extension to the Muirburn season draws to a close on Thursday 30 April, and advised landowners to exercise caution in line with the Muirburn Code1.
Why it matters for households
The warnings apply to households across Scotland over the May Bank Holiday weekend, with the highest level, extreme, covering the whole of Scotland from Thursday 30 April until Friday 1 May, and a very high risk in South West Scotland from 29 April and in Southern Scotland and the Central Highlands from 2 May1. The SFRS advice for the period is that people should avoid lighting outdoor fires, that one spark can spread and cause a large amount of damage, and that anyone who spots a large outdoor fire should call 999 immediately with their location and any other relevant information1. Landowners are advised to exercise caution in line with the Muirburn Code as the extended Muirburn season closes on 30 April1. The guide to wildfires and grass fires sets out risk and prevention information, and the heatwaves and drought hub covers related seasonal guidance.
What happens next
The extreme risk warning for the whole of Scotland remains in place until Friday 1 May, and the very high risk warning for Southern Scotland and the Central Highlands starts on Saturday 2 May1. No end date for the South West Scotland warning or for the 2 May warning has been reported1.
Wildfires and Grass Fires
