A fire at Arthur’s Seat has prompted renewed criticism over proposed cuts to Edinburgh’s fire service.
The fire, which required three crews to tackle, has reignited concerns over plans being considered as part of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Service Delivery Review, which include the closure of Marionville Fire Station.
Marionville is the nearest station to Arthur’s Seat and has remained at the centre of a long-running campaign by residents, unions and community groups calling for a replacement station to be built.
Concerns were raised last year over Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), a building material linked to structural safety issues and deterioration used in the station.
More than 4,500 people signed a petition opposing the closure, while several community councils also raised formal objections.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service previously said it does not currently have the budget to replace Marionville and believes surrounding stations can continue to provide effective cover, with some assets expected to move to Newcraighall.
The Scottish Government also previously said that no final decisions have yet been taken about Marionville Station and any changes would be phased in over five years following consultation and independent analysis.
However, the latest fire has intensified warnings from the Fire Brigades Union over the impact of reduced resources.
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John McKenzie, regional secretary of the Fire Brigades Union in Scotland, said: "This fire is yet further evidence of the importance of a rapid and effective response from firefighters to emergency incidents, and underlines the risks of planned cuts to that response.
"This recent wildfire comes as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service considers the outcome of a Service Delivery Review which proposes closing Marionville Fire Station, the nearest station to the incident and which serves some of the city's most important cultural buildings and locations, shopping and entertainment centres, as well as densely populated residential areas.
"The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has lost almost 1250 jobs since its creation in 2013, which has seen response times spiral, impacting firefighters ability to keep communities safe."
Area Commander David Dourley is the Local Senior Officer for Edinburgh City said: “At 6.50pm on Monday, 25 May, we were alerted to reports of a large grass fire on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.
“Two appliances are in attendance as firefighters are continuing to work to fully extinguish the fire.
“We know many people will be wanting to enjoy the good weather, but we ask they do so responsibly. Wildfires have the potential to destroy property, landscapes and wildlife, which is why it is so important that members of the public use extreme caution under these conditions."
The Scottish Government was approached for a comment.
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