The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), working with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF), extended the Very High risk of wildfire warning for Central Highlands, Southern and Eastern Scotland on 20 July 2026, with the warning now running until Friday 24 July1.
The extension comes as SFRS remains in attendance at a wildfire in the Glenmore area of the Cairngorms National Park, which the service says has burned since last Wednesday1. Crews also remain in attendance at a grassfire on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh1. The service has not reported the size of either fire, the area burned, or any casualties.
"The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF) has today extended the warning until Friday, 24 July."
Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Ian McMeekin said the week had shown that wildfires and large fires in the open "can have a devastating impact on the environment and they can be incredibly disruptive to communities"1. He asked people in Scotland to follow the service's advice and to enjoy warmer weather or time outdoors responsibly1.
Advice for the public in the affected areas is to avoid open flames completely, and not to light outdoor fires or barbecues there1. McMeekin said "a single spark can cause significant damage" and that "there is no such thing as a harmless fire"1. The service asks everyone to stay vigilant even where no warning is in place, and to share wildfire warnings with family, friends and visitors1. It asks anyone who sees a large outdoor fire to call 999 immediately, giving the location and any other relevant information so crews can respond quickly1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Warning | Very High risk of wildfire |
| Areas covered | Central Highlands, Southern and Eastern Scotland |
| Extended on | 20 July 2026 |
| In force until | Friday 24 July |
| Issued by | SFRS with the Scottish Wildfire Forum |
| Incidents attended | Wildfire at Glenmore, Cairngorms National Park; grassfire on Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh |
Why it matters for households
The warning covers households across the Central Highlands, Southern and Eastern Scotland, including Edinburgh, and runs until Friday 24 July1. For people in those areas, the fire service's advice is to avoid open flames completely, including outdoor fires and barbecues1. The service also asks households elsewhere to stay vigilant and to pass warnings on to family, friends and visitors1. The SFRS points readers to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code for guidance on spending time outdoors1. Further detail on fire risk and prevention is set out in the guide to wildfires and grass fires, within the heatwaves and drought section.
What happens next
The warning is due to expire on Friday 24 July1. SFRS says the latest incident statements on both the Glenmore and Arthur's Seat fires are available on its website1. No further extension or change to the warning has been reported.
Wildfires and Grass Fires
