Emergency services have been called to Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh following the breakout of a grass fire and witnesses reporting smoke across the city.
Edinburgh Police and fire services were called to the scene at around 4pm on Sunday 10th August, and issued warnings to locals and tourists to avoid the area.
Police Scotland said: “Emergency services are responding to a fire at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.” They added that “motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area”.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue service confirmed on the social media platform at around 5pm that “crews are in attendance at a fire in the open”.
Crews are in attendance at a fire in the open at Arthur’s Seat, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh.
Members of the public no longer need to alert our Operations Control room about this fire, as we are receiving a number of calls to this incident. pic.twitter.com/mPK9MHRWo6— Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (@fire_scot) August 10, 2025
An Edinburgh resident told The Tab that “people were seen gathering” to look at the “huge plume of smoke covering the whole east side of the hill”.
A witness told Edinburgh Live: “People are running down the face of the hill to get away from it and smoke is spreading really fast.”
Football fans at the Hibernian game were advised to avoid the Willowbrae, Duddingston and Holyrood routes due to the smoke, and authorities will continue to advise on travel throughout the evening as the situation develops.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
