A large fire on Arthur\u2019s Seat in Edinburgh<\/a> was likely started by human activity, fire chiefs have said. <\/p>\n Emergency services were alerted to the blaze<\/a> just after 4pm on Sunday, as smoke billowed into the sky<\/a> from the extinct volcano<\/a> in Holyrood Park. <\/p>\n Fire crews worked throughout the night and into Monday afternoon to control the fire, which spread quickly<\/a> through gorse and heather on the steep hillside. <\/p>\n Although the cause of the blaze is still unknown, it was almost certainly caused by humans, fire chiefs have said.<\/p>\n Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Group Commander Niall MacLennan said: \u201cWhile we have no indication of the cause of the fire, the majority of fires of this nature are started by human behaviour.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Members of the public watch the fire on Arthur\u2019s Seat in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh (Jane Barlow\/PA) (PA Wire)<\/p>\n \u201cResponsible human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a fire starting.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s vital to follow all safety advice when outdoors and to make sure you are familiar with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n A frightened eyewitness said he watched as the flames spread while he made his way down Arthur\u2019s Seat.<\/p>\n Nick Brice, from Brighton, told BBC Scotland News: “We could see this little plume of smoke on the ridge at the far side, and it just got bigger and bigger.<\/p>\n “All of a sudden we could see these flames starting to come up and people noticed it spreading fast.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Smoke from the extinct volcano in Holyrood Park could be seen across the city (Jane Barlow\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n One Edinburgh<\/a> resident said the fire was \u201cpretty scary\u201d and one of the worst she had seen. Nim Byron told the Independent: \u201cIt shows how dry it has actually been in Scotland this summer, this is not normal, as Scotland is famously a very wet place.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Rory Hadden, Rushbrook senior lecturer in fire investigation at the University of Edinburgh, said wildfires<\/a> are becoming more frequent due to land use and climate change. <\/p>\n![\"Members](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754935284_101_35639bfb4fa0b7823458ce53dc7f8722Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU0OTM3NTY1-2.81229563.jpg\")
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