20ft flames seen on Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat

FIREFIGHTERS battling a large grass blaze on Arthur’s Seat were forced to stand down last night after unpredictable winds whipped up the flames.

Firefighters attending a blaze on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. Picture: Joey Kelly (joeykelly.co.uk)

More than two dozen firefighters tackled the blaze on a stretch of gorse 200 by 100 metres long on the Meadowbank side of the Edinburgh hill.

Efforts to stop the flames were suspended after strong winds sent them leaping 20ft, a spokeswoman said.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received more than 110 calls from members of the public after the blaze broke out about 4:30pm yesterday.

The fire was half a mile up the hillside, making it difficult for emergency services to reach. Smoke billowed across the area and was visible for several miles.

Steve Gourlay of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “Our aim is to prevent the fire from spreading and limit ecological and environmental damage in the immediate vicinity.”