An Edinburgh woman has been rushed to hospital as 20 casualties were treated following a fire within a tenement building.
Emergency services rushed to Gorgie Road on Tuesday morning following reports of a fire within a stairwell. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed that a total of 20 casualties were passed on to paramedics.
Police Scotland also confirmed that one woman was rushed to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with non-life threatening injuries.
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One resident, who was on the top floor when the terrifying blaze broke out, claims it resulted from a pram catching fire which trapped him in his flat until the fire brigade arrived.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live he said: "I’m on the first floor and the smoke alarm went off, so I went outside into the stairwell and I just saw this pram completely up in flames.
"We couldn’t get past so we stayed inside and phoned the fire brigade. They decided it would be safer for us to stay inside while they put out the fire and cleared out the smoke, after that we were evacuated.
"Everyone was checked over for smoke inhalation but it seems like everyone was okay, thankfully nothing has been destroyed except the pram."
Residents inside the block were evacuated and police say enquiries into what caused the blaze are ongoing. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were called around 9.05 am on Tuesday, 4 July to a report of a fire at a block of flats on Gorgie Road, Edinburgh.
“Emergency services attended and a woman was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with non-life threatening injuries.
“The block was evacuated while the fire was put out by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing.”
It is understood residents have now been allowed access to their flat after the blaze was extinguished, although emergency services remain at the scene.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 8.52am on Tuesday, 4 July to reports of a dwelling fire in Edinburgh.
"Operations Control mobilised four appliances to the city's Gorgie Road, where firefighters were met by a fire within a three-storey tenement building.
"Crews helped lead three casualties to safety before passing them into the care of Scottish Ambulance Service personnel. A total of 20 casualties were in the care of paramedics. One casualty was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
"Firefighters extinguished the fire and crews have now left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.”
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 0855hrs this morning to attend a fire at a property on Gorgie Road, Edinburgh. We dispatched three ambulances and the SORT team, and 21 patients were treated at the scene, with one patient transported to hospital.”
