High-Rise Blaze Breaks Out in Edinburgh

TWO FIREFIGHTERS have suffered minor injuries after tackling a high-rise apartment fire in Edinburgh.

Around 100 residents were evacuated from the building in the early hours of Thursday morning as 70 firefighters fought the blaze in Breadalbane Street, Bonnington, with Police Scotland also in attendance.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it sent 12 fire engines and specialist vehicles to the scene after the alarm was raised at 4:10am. No casualties involving members of the public were reported and the fire has now been contained.

High-Rise Blaze

Conservative MSP for Central Scotland Graham Simpson was among the residents evacuated from the apartment block. He told the BBC: “The fire alarm went off and people started evacuating and everybody got out.

“It started on the fifth floor and it’s spread up to the sixth floor and it seems it has gone to the stair well.”

We have been evacuated pic.twitter.com/P9iXiX4j72

— Graham Simpson (@GrahamSMSP) March 14, 2024

Graham Simpson suggested access issues made it more difficult for the firefighters to reach the blaze as they couldn’t drive up to the front of the building.

He added, “I think there is a safety issue in that the fire brigade cannot get a fire engine up to the front of these flats because of the way they are designed, so they’re having to carry ladders up to the front to get to the balconies.

“It’s quite ludicrous they are having to carry and physically put ladders up to balconies.”

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Andy Girrity said: “The fire is contained and firefighting operations remain ongoing to bring this incident to a safe conclusion.

“This has been a complex incident which involved the evacuation of a large number of people.

“Our crews have worked tirelessly to contain this fire and prevent further spread within the building.

“There is a large-scale emergency service presence and we will remain on the scene for a considerable time.”

>> Read about more high-rise fires in the news