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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Fionnuala Boyle & Gemma Ryder

Scots wildfire 'frighteningly' near homes as firefighters tackle blaze for third day

Firefighters are working "relentlessly" to put out a wildfire that has been raging now for a third day in West Lothian, with flames "frighteningly" near some homes.

Sixty firefighters are at the scene where a fire is affecting a large area of moorland and woodland in High Camilty, covering one mile by 1.5 miles, near West Calder and which runs adjacent to the A70.

Helicopters can also be seen dosing burning fields with water collected from Harperrig reservoir.

The fire lights up the sky in West Lothian. (Supplied)

Locals say the fire has not been maliciously started but wildlife has been killed and the environment ruined, which could also affect residents livelihoods.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were alerted to the inferno shortly before 1pm yesterday and are still battling to put out the flames.

Local Rizia Robertson, who appeared in a channel 5 documentary on Tuesday night, said: "We have a serious wildfire here in West Lothian. It's been going on for 2 whole days and spreading.

"We are safe but our neighbours are much closer and it's very worrying.

"Firefighters have worked relentlessly and helicopters are now in use.

"Wildlife is killed and displaced, the environment is ruined and people's lives and livelihoods are put in danger.

"This is heart-breaking and very scary."

Smoke billows from High Camilty in West Calder (Liam Bullerwell / @LBDronography)

Twelve appliances are in attendance and a helicopter is also part of the firefighting effort. Photos taken at the site, which were shared on social media, show plumes of grey, thick smoke billowing from the forest.

SFRS is urging nearby residents to keep their windows closed as the smoke plume moves in an easterly direction towards Edinburgh.

Liam Bullerwell, who captured the scene unfold on his drone from around two miles away last night, said: "The wind was blowing the smoke over towards Currie/ Edinburgh.

"The photos were taken from a few km away so should give an idea of the scale of it. As I was leaving there were four engines with lights on heading towards it to help the four that were already there.

"I set the drone up close to Crossword Reservoir which is at the B7008 junction on the A70. I left at 6.45pm which is when all of the fire engines were heading towards it from the east."

Smoke rises from the fields in Harburn/Camilty (Supplied)

Many have been shocked at the photos shared from the scene. Vivienne Moir commented: "Absolutely horrific. Looks like Australia not Scotland."

A SFRS spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 1.23pm on Wednesday, 10 August to reports of a fire in the open at High Camilty, West Calder.

"Operations Control has now mobilised twelve appliances to the scene, where crews remain in attendance as they work to make the area safe."

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