Edinburgh fire: Child and four adults rescued after roof destroyed in Muirhouse flat blaze

The fire broke out at around 10am | Submitted

A child and four adults have been rescued after a fire destroyed the roof of a four-storey block of flats in Edinburgh.

Emergency services were called to Ferry Gait Place in Muirhouse shortly after 10am on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

The five people were removed from one property and monitored by the Scottish Ambulance Service. All other flats in the building were evacuated, while people in neighbouring and adjacent properties were advised to keep their windows and doors closed.

Six fire appliances and a high-reach vehicle were sent to the scene as firefighters tackled the blaze in the roof structure.

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A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We are currently in attendance at a building fire involving the roof structure of a four-storey block of flats on Ferry Gait Place in Edinburgh.

“Six fire appliances and a high reach vehicle are on scene and firefighting remains ongoing.

“Firefighters removed four adults and one child from one property, who are being monitored by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

“All other properties within the building have been evacuated and other neighbouring and adjacent properties advised to keep windows and doors closed.”

A resident said their partner alerted the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service after seeing smoke. Flames then emerged from the roof within minutes.

They said: “It was pretty shocking. Nothing like this happens around here and it tends to be pretty quiet.”

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The resident said the fire appeared to have spread across the roof, prompting concern that it could collapse, but did not seem to have reached other parts of the building. They did not see anyone inside the property.

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 10:07am to attend a building fire at Ferry Gait, Edinburgh.

“Two ambulances, two special operations response teams (SORT), a paramedic response car and a critical care paramedic were dispatched to the scene.”

Police Scotland said officers were assisting firefighters at the incident.

A force spokesperson said: “Around 10:10am on Thursday, September 10, 2026, police received a report of a building fire on Ferry Gait, Edinburgh.

“We are assisting our SFRS colleagues as they deal with the incident.”