FIREFIGHTERS in Scotland demanded urgent investment in the service to meet climate change challenges today as wildfires once again ravage the Scottish landscape.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service faced about 90 outdoor fires over the last weekend, including a wildfire at Galloway Forest Park — a fire so intense it burned for days and required dousing by helicopter to bring it under control.

FBU Scotland warned the latest spate of wildfires only underlines the dangers of meeting an ever more frequent problem as global temperatures rise with cuts to posts and budgets.

FBU Scottish secretary John McKenzie said: “The wildfires of the last week are the clearest evidence of the need to invest in the staffing, equipment and training required to prevent wildfires and protect firefighters and communities from them.

“However, over the last 12 years over 1,250 firefighter posts have been lost and tens of millions of pounds have been cut from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service budget.

“The Scottish government must provide urgently required additional funding to ensure that firefighters can tackle incidents such as wildfire effectively.”

SNP Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) had seen a £18.8 million increase this year, adding: “I am grateful to the dedicated firefighters and first responders who have been dealing with recent and ongoing wildfires.

“We will continue to work with SFRS to support implementation of its three-year wildfire strategy, with the continued roll-out this year of new equipment, vehicles and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).”