Three people taken to hospital after fire breaks out at Leith hostel on Newhaven Road

Three people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out a hostel in Edinburgh.

Scottish Fire and Rescue crews were alerted to a blaze on Newhaven Road in Leith, Edinburgh at around 9.36pm on Thursday, January 18.

Crews worked to extinguish the fire with four fire engines and specialist equipment sent to the scene.

Police Scotland confirmed three people were taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment but have since been released.

The force said the fire was not believed to be wilful and that alternative accommodation was also sought for five people.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 9.36pm on Thursday, January 18, to reports of a fire within a domestic property on Newhaven Road, Leith, Edinburgh.

“Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and a specialist resource to the area where firefighters worked to make the area safe.

“One casualty was in the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service, and crews were no longer in attendance.”

Emergency services responded with specialist equipment to the scene. Photo: STV News

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 9.40pm on Thursday, January 18, 2024, we received a report of a fire at a premises on Newhaven Road, Edinburgh.

“Emergency services attended and three people were taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment and later released.

“The fire is not believed to be wilful and there is no further police involvement.”

The road was closed as crews worked to extinguish the fire after Lothian Buses confirmed to disruption to passengers.

A service update at 10.20pm on Thursday evening said: “Due to a road closure buses are unable to serve Newhaven Road between Bonnington Toll and Ferry Road and are instead diverted via Bonnington Road, Great Junction Street and Ferry Road in both directions until further notice.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 21:38 hours on Thursday to attend an incident on Newhaven Road in Edinburgh.

“We dispatched two ambulances and our special operations team to the scene and transported three patients to New Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.”