Revealed: Firefighters spent more than 100 days tackling 'unprecedented' wildfires in Scotland last year
Wildfires in Scotland jumped to record levels in 2025, according to new data.
Firefighters spent more than 100 days battling wildfires as the number of blazes in Scotland soared to record numbers in 2025, new statistics have revealed.
Research by 1919 magazine has revealed there were 239 separate wildfire emergencies last year, quadruple that of the previous year, as the whole UK endured unusually dry spring and summer months.
The fires occurred the length and breadth of the country, and have been branded "unprecedented" by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
As well as the number of fires, the pressure they placed on resources also broke new records.
Firefighters were detained for more than 2,500 hours in total as the flames threatened to wreck countryside and wildlife, and posed major threats to rural settlements.
Climate change has been blamed for the increase in wildfire incidents with Scotland not immune to more extreme heat.
Fire bosses have warned the problem will only get worse as average temperatures increase.
The fire brigade has spent around £1.6 million on equipment, training and vehicles to respond to the increased threat.
It said it is working with a range of organisations to prevent wildfires and mitigate their impact.
Deputy assistant chief officer, Kenny Barbour, said: “Scotland faced an unprecedented scale of wildfire risk in 2025.
“In addition to requiring a significant amount of resources, wildfires can potentially burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife, threatening the welfare of nearby communities.
“The service is committed to engaging with residents, landowners and local organisations to raise awareness of wildfire risks and to promote safe land management practices.”
The statistics were obtained by 1919 through freedom of information requests.
They show the 239 incidents last year also well-outstripped the numbers for the previous five years.
No part of the country was spared, although the Highlands – with their vast swathes of wilderness – appear to have been the worst-affected.
And even the cities did not escape, with one fire on Edinburgh’s famous Arthur’s Seat leading to a nearby road closure for several weeks.
Many countryside blazes required a fire service presence for longer than a week at a time.
Scottish Conservative MSP, Maurice Golden, said: “There’s evidence all over the world of the devasting effect of climate change.
“These figures show, in Scotland, we had some pretty hard evidence ourselves.
“These fires destroy precious land, endanger communities and place immense strain on the fire service.
“It’s vital all politicians work together to improve Scotland and the UK’s efforts to reduce emissions.”
The data also reveals wildfires are now far from just a summer problem.
Six blazes took places throughout September and October, and there was even a deliberate wildfire in November, which took fire crews two days to extinguish in the Angus town of Carnoustie.
Most of the wildfires recorded last year were considered accidental, with those in urban areas the most likely to have been started on purpose.
Fire Brigade Union (FBU) sources in Scotland told 1919 they were concerned about the impact of climate change and wildfires, especially as the wider service struggles financially.
Across the UK, the FBU has repeatedly called on the government to increase resources to match the growing threat.
Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “We are grateful to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and to partners across the rural and land‑management sectors who supported the response to the unprecedented number of wildfires in 2025. Ministers convened a meeting in October 2025 to bring together key organisations involved, to review and discuss how best to prevent and manage future incidents. Working with partners, the Scottish Government is now developing a wildfire action plan for the year ahead.
“The 2026–27 Budget provides almost £436 million for SFRS – an increase of £23.8 million (5.7 per cent) on the opening 2025–26 budget. This investment will help ensure SFRS can continue to deliver the high standard of service needed to keep communities safe.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.