A WARNING of a very high to extreme risk of wildfires has been put in place across East Lothian and various other parts of Scotland, with temperatures expected to reach highs of 15 or 16 Celsius today and tomorrow.
The warning was issued by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, and is in place until Monday. It covers southern and central Scotland.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has urged people who live in or who may enter rural environments to “exercise caution”.
Wildfires, should one take place, have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife, as well as threaten the welfare of nearby communities.
Bruce Farquharson, local senior officer for Aberdeen City, said: "We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame.
"Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage.
"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.
"These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
"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 Code."
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