Firefighters rescue four people from Hope Park Crescent stairwell

Firefighters  attended reports of a fire a tenement block in Edinburgh’s Hope Park Crescent at just after 11am this morning.

Appliances from Tollcross, Marionville and MacDonald Road were sent to the scene following reports of a fire in a stairwell.

Firefighters carried out a search of the block and rescued four people, two using a hydraulic rescue platform from a third floor window and two who were walked out by firefighters in breathing apparatus.

Three people were seen by paramedics at the scene and discharged and one female was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.

All other persons were accounted for and the fire was extinguished by crews using a high pressure hose reel jet. Firefighters then ventilated the building.

The fire involved a mattress which was alight in the stairwell.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Station Manager David Dourley, who was Incident Commander at the scene said: “We would urge people not to leave rubbish or other items in common stairwells.

“Discarded items of furniture and rubbish can produce large amounts of toxic smoke and also impede access for emergency responders.

“You can reduce the risk of fire for yourself and your neighbours by keeping common stairs clear and free from obstruction and making sure main doors are kept locked.  Steps should be taken to ensure the door entry/intercom system is working.

“I would like to stress the importance of having a working smoke alarm. Every household should have working smoke alarm and test them every week.

“We provide free home fire safety visits and fit smoke alarms where required.  If you know someone who can benefit from our service, why not get them to give us a call? It is important that you know what to do if a fire does occur in the stairwell and how to keep safe. We can advise on this as part of the visit.”