Hero Edinburgh firefighters save five from horror flat fire that tore through city centre

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) were called to the scene on Earl Grey Street at around 8.45pm on Thursday, with images showing a huge police presence and fire engines blocking the road

Edinburgh's fire brigade heroically saved five people from a fierce blaze that tore through a city centre flat.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) swooped into action on Earl Grey Street at about 8.45pm on Thursday, with officers assisting five individuals and handing them over to the Scottish Ambulance Service for care.

Shocking images from the scene show Lothian Road cordoned off amidst a massive emergency response. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, suggesting a serious fire had erupted in a flat, with at least six fire engines, including an aerial platform, and numerous police vehicles in attendance.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed: "We were alerted at 8.45pm on Thursday, 19 September to reports of a flat fire in Edinburgh.

"Operations Control mobilised seven fire appliances to the city's Earl Grey Street, where firefighters were met by a well-developed fire within a first-floor property. Firefighters led five casualties to safety before passing them into the care of Scottish Ambulance Service personnel," reports Edinburgh Live.

"Crews extinguished the fire and worked to make the area safe before leaving the scene. Firefighters reattended the area after receiving reports of a reignition at 2.25am on Friday, 20 September.

"Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances to the scene, where firefighters extinguished a small fire within a first-floor property. One appliance remains in place, with crews working to ensure the area is safe. There are no reported casualties."

Following the incident, a section of Lothian Road was shut down. Lothian Buses issued an alert on their website at 10.45pm stating: "Due to a road closure buses are unable to serve part of Lothian Road, Fountainbridge and are instead diverted via West Approach Road westbound, Dalry Road, Haymarket and Shandwick Place citybound until further notice."

scotland>Police Scotland released a statement saying: "Around 8.55pm on Thursday, 19 September, 2024, we were called to a report of a fire on Earl Grey Street, Edinburgh."

The statement continued: "Enquiries are ongoing with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to establish the cause of the fire. Anyone with information that may assist our enquiries should contact 101 quoting incident number 3795 of 19 September."