Traffic chaos as gorse blazes on Arthur's Seat

A FIRE at one of Edinburgh's best-known beauty spots triggered traffic chaos yesterday.

• Firefighters had to battle to get through the gorse to fight the fire in the Salisbury Crags area of Arthur's Seat. Picture: Ian Rutherford

More than 30 firefighters were involved in an operation to put out flames, which spread through gorse bushes on Arthur's Seat.

Some firefighters travelled on foot with their equipment in backpacks or carrying fire beaters, as vehicles were unable to access steeper parts of the historic site affected by the blaze.

The alarm was raised about 3:10pm, but the blaze spread quickly to cover an around of around 1,000 square metres, forcing the police to close roads in and around Holyrood Park, which are controlled by Historic Scotland.

Motorists were unable to drive between the Our Dynamic Earth attraction and the Royal Commonwealth Pool, and the road linking the park and Duddingston Village was also sealed off.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: "Four pumping appliances and three special control vehicles were involved and the fire was brought under control around 4:50pm."

Firefighters were involved in a three-and-a-half-hour operation at Arthur's Seat in April. More than 300 members of the public alerted the fire service to the previous blaze.