Breaking: Fire spotted on Arthur’s Seat as smoke reaches Edinburgh city centre

This page will be updated with the latest updates as they come out.

Emergency services were called to Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh on Sunday afternnon following the breakout of a fire and witnesses reports of smoke across the city.

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”.

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.”

Scottish Fire and Rescue confirmed to The Tab Edinburgh around 10pm that two appliances remain on the scene and firefighters continue to tackle the blaze.

The service said that no cause had been established and a timeline was uncertain. So far no casualties have been reported.

Historic Environment Scotland, which administers Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat, told The Tab Edinburgh at 11pm: “Our Ranger Service has been assisting Scottish Fire and Rescue with an ongoing incident in Holyrood Park.

“Road closures will remain in place in Holyrood Park overnight to support the work of the emergency services.

“We will reassess access in the morning, in consultation with the emergency services, and will provide a further update.”

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.

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The cause of the fire is unknown.

Historic Environment Scotland have been approached for comment.