Updated. FF identified and more video added. Scroll down.
A FIREFIGHTER FROM THE LOTHIAN AND BORDERS FIRE SERVICE perished early Sunday morning while fighting a fire in an Edinburgh pub.
The Balmoral Pub was closed when the alarm was sounded shortly after midnight, but on arrival the first units encountered a severe rescue challenge with over 20 people trapped in apartments located on the upper floors.
The Balmoral Pub
(Deadline Press & Picture Agency)
All of them were rescued successfully by ladders while a hose company made it into the pub after sawing through the protective bars on the door. The fire was in the basement and once inside the two initial FF’s fell through when the floor collapsed from under them. One of the FF’s died in the basement and the other was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
70 firefighters from 16 companies were at the fire.
The Press Association has this early video report:
Update, 2 pm:
The firefighter has been identified as 35-yr.-old Ewan Williamson.
The Lothian and Borders Fire Chief Brian Alloway describes the fire in this BBC News video:
The Deadline Press & Picture Agency has a good, complete report HERE.
