A massive fire has broken out at the iconic Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, with firefighters receiving more than 180 emergency calls.
Images and videos shared on social media show smoke and flames billowing into the sky from the hill, an extinct volcano in Holyrood Park to the south-east of the city centre.
The blaze began in an area of vegetation near the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said, adding that three appliances were sent to the scene at around 6.50pm today. Firefighters remained at the scene at 9pm.
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In a post on X, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service advised local residents to keep their windows and doors closed due to a “large amount of smoke” from the fire at Arthur’s Seat.
Eliana NunesToday20:58 BST
The fire service have asked the public to cease contacting them regarding the incident as they have already received more than 180 calls since the blaze broke out.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We are currently in attendance at an incident on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.
“Operations Control has mobilised three appliances to the scene. People are being asked to avoid the area as crews work to extinguish a large grass fire.
“There is no further need to alert our Operations Control to this incident as we have already received a large volume of calls.”
Firefighters swarmed the area around Arthur’s Seat(Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
A fire near the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel in Holyrood Park(Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
Members of the public watch the smoke rising from a fire near the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel in Holyrood Park(Image: PA)
The fire comes as Edinburgh recorded a maximum temperature of 25C, according to the Met Office, amid the UK bank holiday heatwave.
During the Edinburgh Marathon at the weekend, several runners were treated for heat exhaustion. The Scottish Ambulance Service said 16 people were taken to hospital on Sunday.
Eliana NunesToday19:57 BST
The fire started in an area of vegetation near the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel, sending a plume of smoke over the city.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed its crews were called to the scene at around 6.50pm.
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The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has received over 180 emergency calls from residents, The Scotsman reports.
A spokesperson for the fire service reportedly said crews were called to reports of the “grass on fire” near the St Anthony’s Chapel ruins at Arthur’s Seat at 6.50pm.
Eliana NunesToday19:46 BST
A fire has reportedly broken out at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.
We will bring you more information as soon as we have it.