Extreme wildfire warning in final day with rain to come

An extreme wildfire warning covering all of Scotland is in place for a final day, with rain showers due in parts of the country on Sunday.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said crews remained at the scene of two wildfires and urged the public to “act responsibly”.

On the Isle of Arran mountain rescuers said pockets of fire continue to burn on Glen Rosa and have told hillwalkers to avoid the area.

Meanwhile, dampening down work is continuing after a large grass fire in Cumbernauld in Lanarkshire, which has been burning since Thursday night.

The SFRS issued the wildfire warning during a long period of unseasonably dry weather.

Temperatures have been well above the April average and Thursday was the warmest day of the year so far in Scotland – reaching 23C (73F ) in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.

Sunday will mark a return to more typical April conditions.

The sunshine will be replaced by cloud, fresh south-westerly winds and some rainfall at the start of the week.

On Friday, firefighters contained a wild blaze on an area of dunes and grass near a gas plant in Peterhead.

Crews were called to the area near the St Fergus Gas Terminal at about 13:00 – including a specialist wildfire unit and five fire engines – and left at about 19:40.

The Glen Rose grass fire on the Isle of Arran was reported at about 13:00 on Thursday.

Three crews were sent to the scene, with one remaining on Saturday morning.

Police have told hillwalkers there will be no access to the popular Goatfell walk due to public safety.

The Cumbernauld fire led to the overnight evacuation of a dog kennel and cattery.

Owner Eran Yehudai told BBC Scotland News he had to evacuate 25 dogs and 10 cats from the premises.

Fannyside Road is closed between Forest Road and Greengairs Road with the public urged to avoid the area.

SFRS area commander Michael Humphreys has urged people to act responsibly in rural areas.

He said: “What we see is the majority of fires, it is human behaviour that starts the fire in the first place.

“Take all your litter home, glass can reflect and start a fire and if you do smoke just make sure your cigarette is absolutely fully out.”

Wildfires have been extinguished in Skye, Aberdeen, Thurso, Rothesay, Bonhill, the Galloway Forest Park and the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh in recent days.