A primary school in Edinburgh will be closed for the rest of the week after a “major fire” in a classroom.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews were called to Liberton Primary School on Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh, on Wednesday afternoon.
Nine appliances were sent to the scene and met with a well-developed fire.
City of Edinburgh Council later confirmed it was “a fire in a first floor classroom and spread to the roof space”.
Classes had finished for the day and remaining staff and pupils were evacuated safely with no casualties reported.
The council confirmed the school will be closed on Thursday and Friday ahead of the half-term February break next week.
Education convener Ian Perry said: “The decision to close the school has not been taken lightly, however unfortunately this has been a major fire which has caused significant damage to a large part of the school.
“There have been no reported injuries and I want to thank the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and council teams for their swift response.
“We’ll update parents next week regarding contingency arrangements.
“We will work closely with the fire service to determine the cause of the fire.”
Lothian Buses confirmed on social media its vehicles were being “diverted down the old Dalkeith Road”.
Police have advised drivers to avoid the area.
Inspector Scott Casey said: “Officers were alerted to the fire at around 3.37pm this afternoon.
“There are no reports of any injuries.
“The fire is being tackled by the SFRS and we are assisting with traffic control at this time.
“It is expected that emergency services will be in attendance for most of the night and people are asked to avoid this area where possible.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson earlier said: “We were alerted at 3.33pm on Wednesday, February 5 to reports of a fire within a school in Edinburgh.
“Operations control mobilised a total of nine appliances to the city’s Gilmerton Road, where firefighters were met by a well-developed fire.
“Crews currently remain on the scene working to extinguish the fire.
“There are no reported casualties.”
An investigation by STV News last year revealed that only a quarter of Scotland’s schools have sprinklers installed.
Both Liberton Primary School and nearby Liberton High School do not have the suppression systems.
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