Edinburgh, August 10 (HS): A fast-moving gorse fire swept across Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park on Sunday afternoon, sending thick smoke over Edinburgh during one of the city’s busiest festival weekends.

The blaze, reported at around 4:05 PM, prompted the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to deploy four fire appliances and specialist crews. Large sections of the park were closed, with police urging the public to stay away from affected areas, including nearby districts of Willowbrae, Duddingston, and Holyrood. No injuries have been reported.

Eyewitnesses described flames spreading rapidly along the ridge, driven by wind, with walkers forced to retreat. The fire comes amid Scotland’s driest start to the year since 1964, following repeated wildfire warnings and a spate of major blazes in the Highlands.

The incident marks the most significant fire on Arthur’s Seat since 2019, when 800 square metres of gorse were destroyed in another major outbreak.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar