Fire crews still battling large wildfire in West Lothian

Fire crews are still tackling a large wildfire that broke out in West Lothian on Saturday.

Nine appliances were dispatched to the blaze in a woodland area near Fauldhouse at about midday on Saturday, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said.

Specialist appliances, including a helicopter, were sent to bring the fire under control.

It is understood the fire broke out some time before 11.43am on Saturday, and as of 1.45pm on Sunday SFRS said it still had the same number of appliances on the scene.

Around 50 firefighters have battled to bring the wildfire under control, with the helicopter being used to drop water on the affected area.

Those living nearby are urged to keep their windows and doors closed due to the smoke.

The fire service had earlier warned of an “extreme” risk of wildfires due to the warm, dry weather.

An SFRS spokesperson said: “We are still in attendance. We were alerted at 11.43am on Saturday to reports of a large outdoor fire affecting a remote area of forest near Fauldhouse, West Lothian, we currently have nine appliances on scene as firefighters continue to work to extinguish the fire.”

Police have urged people to avoid the area.

The Scottish Greens claimed the fire, as well as the extreme wildfire warning issued across the country, signals that Scotland is on the frontline of the climate crisis.

MSP Ariane Burgess said: “We aren’t even in the height of our summer yet and we are already seeing our woodlands burning and warnings in place across much of the country.

“We should all be grateful to the firefighters who are risking their lives and putting their safety on the line to protect us and our communities.

“It’s not just the immediate threats they face, but also the lifelong increased health risks from exposure to smoke and toxic substances.

“We need to do everything we can to ensure that they are well supported and properly equipped for the growing threats that we face from increasing temperatures. Yet, in some parts of rural and island Scotland the fire service is facing a challenge to fill the crews, and some of their stations are in bad need of upgrade.

“Some of these fires have raged for days at a time and have done a huge amount of damage to local livelihoods and habitats. But, most importantly, they have put people in serious danger.

“Scotland is blessed with amazing and iconic landscapes that attract visitors from across the world.

“But they are also homes and places where people live and work, and, with our climate changing around us, they are being put at growing risk and thrust on to the frontline of the climate crisis.”