Wildfire spell saw one blaze a day across Scotland

Getty Images A wildfire takes hold on the hillsideGetty Images
From March to June last year, 133 wildfires were recorded across Scotland

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has launched an awareness campaign after Scotland experienced more than one wildfire a day over a four-month period last year.

The fire service's national Wildfire Prevention Campaign is seeking to prevent avoidable events, with careless behaviour cited as the root cause.

New figures show the service attended 133 incidents between March and June last year - with more than a third occurring across the Highlands.

Forty-eight of the wildfires recorded spread to an area of over a hectare each.

PA Media Firefighters at the scene of a wildfire in the HighlandsPA Media
Hundreds of firefighters tackled two large wildfires in the Highlands

Two of the largest wildfires recorded last year were at Cannich and in Kinlochmoidart on the Ardnamurchan peninsula.

Hundreds of firefighters and community partners tackled the blazes over several weeks, with two injured at Cannich.

Bruce Farquharson, SFRS wildfire lead, said such incidents were extremely dangerous and could place a significant drain on resources.

He said sensible precautions, like muirburn, could play a crucial part in preventing fires from damaging wildlife, the environment and rural communities.

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