Three fire crews are currently battling a significant blaze on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, which erupted on what has been recorded as the United Kingdom's hottest ever May day. Social media footage captured thick smoke billowing near the historic ruins of St Anthony's Chapel, as flames consumed vegetation across the hillside beneath an uncharacteristically cloudless Edinburgh sky.
Fire Response and Closures
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed to the Daily Mail that they were alerted at 6:50 PM on Monday following reports of a fire affecting 'a large area of vegetation' on Arthur's Seat. The three crews remain at the scene, where the fire is still active. Police Scotland announced that Holyrood Park has been closed to vehicles and urged the public to avoid the area for safety reasons.
Record-Breaking Temperatures
The Met Office recorded a maximum temperature of 25°C in Scotland on Monday, but parts of London soared to 34.8°C, breaking the previous UK May record of 32.8°C set in 1922 and 1944. This exceptional heat, described by the Met Office as 'unusual even in mid-summer, let alone May,' has also impacted other events. On Sunday, 16 runners were hospitalised due to heat exhaustion during the Edinburgh Marathon, with temperatures reaching 23.5°C in the Scottish capital. Dozens more, including spectators, required medical assistance. In Portobello, residents used garden hoses to spray water on marathon runners to help them cool down.
Previous Incidents and Significance
This is not the first fire on Arthur's Seat; in August last year, another blaze forced people to flee down the hill to escape thick, black smoke visible from Easter Road Stadium during a Hibernian versus Kilmarnock match. Arthur's Seat, an ancient volcano standing 251 metres above sea level, is the highest point in Holyrood Park and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The park is home to four hill forts dating back 2,000 years, a 15th-century medieval chapel, and Duddingston Loch, which attracts a variety of bird species.
Tuesday may bring some showers to eastern Scotland, but the hot weather is expected to persist for most areas.
