Scotland Extreme Wildfire Warning Nationwide, NI Fires Raging

Authorities in Scotland have issued an extreme wildfire risk warning across the entire country for Thursday, April 30, and Friday, May 1, coinciding with the May bank holiday weekend, while firefighters in Northern Ireland continue to combat large blazes in the Mourne Mountains amid similar dry conditions.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, working with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, announced the alerts due to sunny weather and temperatures expected to surpass 21 degrees Celsius. The extreme risk will ease to very high levels in southern Scotland and the central Highlands on Saturday, May 2. Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour, head of prevention at the service and forum chair, urged the public to act responsibly. "Going into the May bank holiday weekend, we will be seeing an extreme risk of wildfire across the whole of Scotland," Barbour said. "People should avoid lighting outdoor fires and be mindful that one spark can spread causing a large amount of damage. Remember there's no such thing as a harmless fire."

Barbour emphasized the potential for wildfires to destroy property, landscapes, and wildlife, advising people to share warnings and report any large outdoor...