Fire crews in Edinburgh tackled a blaze at Arthur’s Seat on July 19, 2026. The fire, which was reported at 6:38pm, saw four fire appliances dispatched to the scene, with no reported casualties.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SRFS) confirmed the fire was reported at 6:38pm on Sunday, with four fire appliances dispatched to the scene. A resident who spotted the smoke from Inverleith Park told The National they could “smell” the fire, while images shared online showed black clouds of smoke billowing over Holyrood Park. The blaze, described as “in the open” by SRFS, burned near residential areas and grassy slopes. The fire was close to a residential street home to multiple blocks of flats, according to The National.
Emergency services also addressed a separate wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park, which had been burning since Wednesday. That fire, starting in heathland at Ryvoan Bothy, near Nethy Bridge, spread to cover an area of around six square kilometers by Thursday afternoon. Park officials have said the fire is now largely surrounded,
and expect evacuated residents to be able to return “later today.” On Sunday afternoon, park bosses said the fire, which burnt around four square kilometers at its peak, is largely under control. The park authority announced that the incident remains ongoing, nevertheless, with fire crews and other partners tackling the blaze together.
Scale of the Blaze and Evacuation Efforts
The fire in the Cairngorms affected six square kilometers of land, leading to the evacuation of homes, businesses, and campsites. A high-volume pump was deployed to draw water from Loch Morlich to support firefighting efforts. Police escorted residents and campers back to collect belongings as the fire neared containment. We are currently attending a fire in the open at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh,
SRFS stated on social media, adding that there is no need to call Operations Control regarding this incident.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed to The National that crews were called to Arthur’s Seat at 6:38pm on Sunday following reports of a blaze. The fire started in the open at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, with four fire appliances at the scene.
The fire in the Cairngorms National Park, which began on Wednesday, had been burning for four days by Sunday. It spread from heathland at Ryvoan Bothy, near Nethy Bridge, and affected six square kilometers of land. Park officials said the fire was largely surrounded.
A high-volume pump was used to draw water from Loch Morlich to support firefighting efforts in the Cairngorms. Police began escorting residents and campers back to properties and campsites to collect personal belongings as the fire neared containment.
Historical Context and Repeated Incidents
This marks the second time Arthur’s Seat has been set ablaze in the space of three months. In May, a fire started in an area of vegetation near the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel in Holyrood Park, according to The National. Officials emphasized the importance of public safety, with no casualties reported.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SRFS) confirmed to The National that crews were called to Arthur’s Seat just after 6:30pm. The fire was described as “in the open” by SRFS, with four fire appliances at the scene. The fire was reported at 6:38pm on Sunday, 19 July, and there was no need to call Operations Control regarding this incident, according to SRFS. The fire at Arthur’s Seat is the second time in the space of three months that Arthur’s Seat has been set ablaze. In May, a fire started in an area of vegetation near the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel in Holyrood Park.
What Comes Next for the Region
Residents evacuated from the Glenmore Forest Park area are expected to return home “later today.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SRFS) has confirmed that there are no reported casualties from either fire. Park officials in the Cairngorms National Park have said the fire is largely surrounded
and expect evacuated residents to be able to return “later today.”
Sources: bbc.co.uk, Thenational.
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