Arthur's Seat fire live: Emergency services battle huge blaze at iconic UK city site

Arthur's Seat fire live: Emergency services battle huge blaze at iconic UK city site A picture of the fire taken from the Scottish Parliament shows a large plume of thick smoke billowing from the area A large blaze has broken out on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh as fire crews have been battling a number of wildfires around Scotland. The fire, located next to the Palace of Holyrood House, started around 6.30pm today. Four fire engines from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are in attendance. An image taken from the Scottish Parliament, located nearby, shows a large plume of smoke billowing from the hill. Tonight's blaze comes as Scotland battles a dry spell, with massive wildfires in the Cairngorms ongoing. An area of Arthur's Seat was also scorched in August last year. Follow below for live updates from this incident Key Events The police have shut roads in the area as they support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Queens Drive at the roundabout near Pollock Halls and down to Dynamic Earth is currently closed. Drivers have been warned to take alternative routes. In the latest update at 9.50pm a spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted at 6.38pm on Sunday, 19 July to reports of a fire in the open at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.“Operations Control mobilised six fire appliances and specialist resources to the scene where firefighters are working to extinguish a fire affecting an area of grass.“There are no reported casualties and crews remain at the scene.” Arthur's Seat also burned in August 2025, when firefighters tackled the blaze for at least six days. No casulaties were reported but people were asked to avoid the area at the time. Below is some footage shared of the fire at the time it was taking place in August last year. Chris Murray, MP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, has posted a warning on his X account regarding the fire at Arthur's Seat. He said: "Very worried to see the fire in Holyrood Park on Arthur’s Seat. Please take care everyone and stay away from the fire. I understand the fire brigade are aware." Here is another clip shared on social media of tonight's fire at Arthur's Seat. Road closures are now in place as a result of the fire at Arthur's Seat. A statement from Police Scotland Edinburgh reads: "We are on scene supporting Scottish Fire and Rescue Service with a fire in the open at Arthur's Seat. "Queens Drive at the roundabout near Pollock Halls and down to Dynamic Earth is currently closed. Please use alternative routes if driving in the area." Multiple clips of the fire at Arthur's Seat have been shared on social media. One video posted on X, formerly Twitter, shows huge orange flames, with thick smoke billowing from the hill. Residents and other members of the public who have been displaced by the Cairngorms National Park wildfire have been told to call 01349 886691 to register their details if they require to return to the exclusion zone. They will then be contacted when it is deemed safe to enter. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "We would like to remind the public that the area is closed to visitors, with the Cairngorm Ski Road (C7) currently closed at Coylumbridge. "People should continue to avoid the area unless contacted via the process detailed above." As of 6pm today, firefighters were still on scene tackling a wildfire in the Glenmore area of the Cairngorms National Park. Today is the fifth consecutive day that crews have been battling the blaze, with specialist resources and helicopter water-bombing operations also deployed to the scene. Six fire engines were in attedance this evening, along with two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), a Wildfire Support Unit and a water carrier. A statement from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service read: "There continues to be significant progress, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) continues to work in partnership with agencies and landowners to build on this, with firefighters continuing to monitor conditions closely and respond where required. "There are encouraging signs across the affected area, with visible improvements becoming increasingly evident. "While this is positive, wildfires can change rapidly and unexpectedly, and it is important that we do not become complacent." The area remains closed to visitors and road closures are still in place. A statement from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service reads: "We are currently attending a fire in the open at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. "Four fire appliances are at the scene. We were alerted at 6.38pm on Sunday, 19 July. "There is no need to call Operations Control regarding this incident." Good evening and thank you for joining our live coverage of the fire at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. We will bring you updates as soon as we get them.