THE Fire Brigades Union Scotland urged ministers today to “look out of their comfortable offices” at the blaze raging on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh and abandon proposed cuts to the fire service.

Three crews of firefighters worked yesterday night and into today to contain the fire on the peak overlooking the Scottish Parliament, a popular spot for tourists and locals alike.

The union’s regional secretary John McKenzie said the incident only “underlines the risks of planned cuts” to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), which has already lost nearly 1,250 jobs since its creation in 2013.

“This recent wildfire comes as the SFRS 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,” Mr McKenzie said.

“Scottish government ministers should look out of their comfortable offices in Holyrood and see for themselves the risk to communities if they continue to fail to provide the financial resources the SFRS needs.”