Body Removed From Flat After Fire In Polwarth

One person has died after a fierce fire took hold in a top-floor flat in Edinburgh's Polwarth area.

Emergency services were called to the blaze in Yeaman Place at 5.15pm yesterday (Tues).

Firefighters found the blaze was well-developed and called for more crews and equipment to battle the flames.

A body was recovered from inside the property after the fire had been put out and work is under way to establish the victim's identity.

Police and the fire service are carrying out a joint investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze took hold in the top floor of a four storey building.

A spokesman said: "We received a call at 5.15pm to a flat alight in Yeaman Place. Crews initially responded from Tollcross and Sighthill stations.

"The first appliances arrived within minutes. On arrival the crews encountered quite a well-developed fire within the property.

"Because of the scale of the fire, the incident commander requested further resources.

"We had additional appliances, including specialist units, sent from McDonald Road and Marionville fire stations.''

Crews used breathing equipment, lines of hose, a high pressure hose reel and a turntable ladder to bring the fire under control.

"The property was severely damaged by fire,'' the spokesman added.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Once the fire was extinguished a body was recovered from within the property.

"A joint police and fire service investigation is under way to establish the cause of the fire and to determine the identity of the person who died.''