Firefighter killed in pub blaze

A firefighter has died while tackling a blaze in an Edinburgh pub.

More than 20 people, including a baby, had to be rescued from the multi-storey tenement block above the Balmoral in Dalry Road.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue (LBFR) said the firefighter died after a floor collapsed on the basement bar.

Another firefighter was taken to the Royal Edinburgh Infirmary with non-life threatening injuries. The blaze broke out shortly after midnight.

The fire service was alerted at 12.38am and officers arrived to find a "severe" fire raging in the bar.

LBFR's chief fire officer Brian Allaway said it was a very difficult fire to deal with.

"The flames were so fierce. It's been an absolute tragedy for us," he said.

"The thoughts of every single member of the service are with the families of the firefighter and our injured colleague," he added.

He said there would be a full investigation into the incident.

About 70 firefighters are tackling the blaze.

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