Fire crews remain at the scene of a large wildfire that erupted in a woodland area near Fauldhouse, West Lothian, on Saturday, as efforts to fully extinguish the blaze continue into a second day.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) confirmed that nine fire appliances and specialist units, including a helicopter, have been deployed to tackle the fire, which is believed to have ignited shortly before 11:43 am on Saturday.
By Sunday morning at 8:50 am, the SFRS said the same number of resources remained on site, with approximately 50 firefighters working tirelessly to bring the flames under control.
The helicopter has been used extensively to drop water on the fire-affected area, as crews on the ground work in challenging conditions.
Residents in the surrounding area have been urged to keep their windows and doors shut due to thick smoke drifting from the scene.
Authorities have also appealed to the public to avoid the area while emergency services continue their work.
The incident comes amid heightened warnings from the fire service about an “extreme” risk of wildfires across parts of Scotland, driven by prolonged dry and warm weather.
An SFRS spokesperson said: “We are continuing our operations to extinguish the fire near Fauldhouse. The same number of appliances are in attendance as yesterday, and work is ongoing to fully bring the situation under control.”
Police Scotland have reiterated calls for people to steer clear of the area to allow emergency teams to operate safely and efficiently.
The full extent of the damage is not yet known, and investigations into the cause of the fire may follow once it has been safely contained.
