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Fire in Shandon today

August 31, 2011 10:32 am

A fire broke out early today in Hazelbank Terrace in a row of colonies in the Shandon area of the city. When The Reporter arrived the smell of smoke was thick in the air and Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service were still on the scene, along with Lothian and Borders Police. Traffic was being diverted away from the Shandon Place and Slateford Road junction.

More than 40 firefighters have been battling the large scale fire in the row of terraced properties since the early hours.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service were alerted to the blaze at 37 Hazelbank Terrace in the Shandon area of the city at 5.20am. On arrival they found a ground floor flat well alight with the fire spreading to neighbouring properties.

Six pumping appliances and a height appliance were mobilised to the scene with supporting command and specialist vehicles also in attendance.

The blaze quickly spread into the roof space of the two storey houses as ten firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using three lines of hose fought to get the fire under control.

By 7.30am, three properties in the row of colony houses were affected and the roof of one of the buildings had collapsed, partial roof collapses were also reported in the two other affected houses.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters have been working very hard in challenging conditions to bring this large scale fire under control. There are no reports of casualties at this stage. The fire spread into the roof space and we have seen the roof collapse in one property and a partial collapse in two others houses affected by the fire. The damage to all three properties is significant. We expect to be at the scene for some time and would advise people to avoid the immediate area whilst firefighting operations continue.”