Very high wildfire risk covers eastern and southern Scotland

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-12 18:16 2 min read

Aerial view of a misty, forested Scottish mountain landscape at Loch Eil.

A very high wildfire warning is in force across the Eastern Highlands, eastern Scotland and southern Scotland from Wednesday 12 August until Thursday 13 August.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), working with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, is asking residents and visitors to use extreme caution in rural areas. The immediate advice is to think twice before using anything involving a naked flame while the warning remains in place.

Areas covered by the warning

The warning applies to:

Eastern Highlands
Eastern Scotland
Southern Scotland

It is a regional warning rather than a notice limited to one town or site. It matters to people living in, travelling through or spending time outdoors in the affected areas, including those walking or visiting rural places.

Avoid naked flames in rural areas

SFRS says human behaviour can significantly reduce the chance of a wildfire starting. While the warning is active, people are being urged to avoid activities involving naked flames and to act safely and responsibly in rural environments.

The service and the Scottish Wildfire Forum also ask people to follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. The warning is intended to make people aware of hazardous conditions and encourage safer choices outdoors; it does not set out additional local restrictions or penalties.

Very high wildfire risk covers eastern and southern Scotland

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour, SFRS Head of Operational Delivery and chair of the Scottish Wildfire Forum, said members of the public should exercise “extreme caution”. He said wildfires place a major drain on fire-service resources and can threaten the safety of firefighters and communities.

Why the warning matters now

The warning comes as firefighters continue work in the Cairngorms, four weeks after a wildfire there first began. Crews are damping down hotspots in the area.

Wildfires can affect habitats, wildlife and the economy, as well as infrastructure and property. The continuing work in the Cairngorms has also left Nethy Bridge residents waiting as wildfire risk remains, underlining the importance of reducing avoidable fire risks while conditions are hazardous.

What to do until Thursday

For the duration of the warning, anyone in the affected regions should:

Avoid using anything involving a naked flame in rural areas.
Take extra care when outdoors and make responsible choices that reduce the risk of a fire starting.
Follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

The current very high risk warning is scheduled to run until Thursday 13 August. SFRS and the Scottish Wildfire Forum have not set out further local restrictions in the warning, so the clearest immediate action is to avoid behaviours that could start a fire while it remains in force.

Source: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source and checks

This article is based on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service warning issued on 12 August 2026.

Checks

Confirmed the warning period: 12 to 13 August 2026.
Confirmed the covered areas: Eastern Highlands, eastern Scotland and southern Scotland.
Checked SFRS advice on naked flames and responsible behaviour in rural areas.
Confirmed that Cairngorms crews are still damping down hotspots.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Check wildfire coverage