Fire in Rankeillor Street

More than 40 firefighters were involved in tackling a blaze at a tenement in Rankeillor Street, last night.

At around 11pm, the Service received several 999 calls to report a fire in the basement area of No.4 Rankeillor Street.

On arrival firefighters discovered a large volume of smoke coming out of the building from the common stair which subsequently spread to adjoining properties on Rankeillor Street and Clerk Street.

Four residents from No.4 were rescued by firefighters using ladders. Twelve people were treated at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service, two of whom were subsequently taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary suffering from smoke inhalation.

At the height of the incident more than 40 firefighters, some using breathing apparatus, were needed to extinguish the fire and ensure all the occupants were led to safety.

The Red Cross vehicle based at Tollcross fire station attended to support the affected residents.
An investigation into the cause of the blaze is now underway into the cause of the fire.

David Lockhart, Community Safety Manager at Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: “This highlights the need for residents living in tenement buildings to be aware of the storage of items within their common stair which could be set on fire.

“Make sure that common stairs are keep clear from rubbish or any items which may block an escape route in an emergency. It’s also vital that people have a plan of what to do if they discover a fire in their home or stair. This is something that the Service can help with through the Home Safety Visit programme where we can also fit a free smoke alarm. To arrange such a visit call 0800 169 0302.”

[googleMap name=”4 Rankeillor Street” width=”400″ height=”400″ directions_to=”false”]4 Rankeillor Street Edinburgh[/googleMap]