Edinburgh building evacuated after fire at block of flats as public urged to avoid area

Residents in Edinburgh have been forced to leave their homes after a fire took hold at a block of flats in the city.

Firefighters rushed to to the scene just before 7pm on Sunday and remain at the scene.

Members of the public are asked to avoid the area as Colinton Road remains closed between Mid Gillsland Road and Tipperlinn Road.

Police Scotland said South Ettrick Road is also closed from Spylaw Road.

“No one has been injured but the building, a block of flats, has been evacuated,” a spokesperson for the force said.

“No other building is affected.

“There are no apparent suspicious circumstances and officers are in attendance to assist.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted at 6.40pm on Sunday to reports of a fire within a building on Colinton Road, Edinburgh.

“Five fire appliances remain at the scene. There are no reported casualties.

“At its height, nine fire appliances, including height appliances and specialist resources, were initially mobilised, and firefighters are working to extinguish the flames.”