Scottish Government holds emergency meeting over ongoing Galloway wildfire

The Scottish Government is holding an emergency meeting over an ongoing wildfire in a woodland park.

Large areas of Galloway Forest Park have been alight since Thursday, sometime before 4.14pm.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance was chairing the meeting on Sunday.

The fire began in the Dumfries and Galloway area of the park, but has since spread up to Loch Doon, East Ayrshire.

As of 10.20pm on Sunday, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said crews were to leave the area because of low light, but would return at “first light” on Monday.

On X, formerly Twitter, the Scottish Government said: “The Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGORR) has been activated in response to a wildfire in the area of Galloway Forest Park. Justice Secretary Angela Constance will chair a meeting this evening.”

Police have urged people to avoid the area.

Helicopters have been deployed to “water-bomb” the fire, an SFRS spokeswoman previously said.

People have also been told to keep doors and windows closed.

The fire comes after an extended stretch of dry, warm weather across Scotland, which is predicted to last until at least the end of this week. The fire service had issued warnings about wildfires.

Group Commander Garry Douglas, an SFRS tactical adviser, previously said: “During any period of heightened risk, fires can ignite easily, spread very quickly and burn with high intensity.

“At this time of year in early spring, we typically have a large volume of dead, bone-dry vegetation across large areas of countryside.

“This essentially acts as a fuel for fire.

“There are currently vast areas that are tinder-dry and vulnerable, which provides all the ingredients for fire to take hold and spread.

“Human behaviour is the cause of most wildfires in Scotland, so it is imperative we all act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors, especially over the coming days of predicted sunshine.

“By following some simple but key advice, we can significantly reduce the risk of wildfire occurring.”