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Fire crews tackle Edinburgh fires Fire crews fight Edinburgh blazes
(about 1 hour later)
Firefighters have been called to tackle three major blazes in Edinburgh within the space of an hour and a half. Hundreds of people had to be evacuated from Edinburgh city centre when fire crews were called to tackle a major blaze at a restaurant.
The alarm was raised at about 2010 BST on Friday when the first fire was reported in the city's Victoria Street. One witness said 20ft flames were coming from the roof of the building on Victoria Street.
Crews were also called to tackle fires at a bar in nearby Frederick Street and a housing complex in Park Street.
Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said the scene was "chaotic" but with no reports of injuries.
The alarm was raised at about 2010 BST on Friday when the first fire was reported in Victoria Street.
Witnesses said that flames were coming from the roof of the Khushis Indian restaurant.Witnesses said that flames were coming from the roof of the Khushis Indian restaurant.
There were also blazes in a shop in Frederick Street and at a sheltered housing complex in Moredun Park Street. There are no reports of any casualties. There were also blazes at Rick's Bar in Frederick Street and at a sheltered housing complex in Moredun Park Street.
Victoria Street was cordoned off while fire crews brought the restaurant blaze in under control.Victoria Street was cordoned off while fire crews brought the restaurant blaze in under control.
I was coughing and choking from the smoke just walking past, and there was water pouring down the street James O'BrienI was coughing and choking from the smoke just walking past, and there was water pouring down the street James O'Brien
Eyewitness James O'Brien, 28, told the BBC Scotland News website that flames had been shooting about 20ft out of the roof of Khushis. The building also houses the Liquid Rooms nightclub.Eyewitness James O'Brien, 28, told the BBC Scotland News website that flames had been shooting about 20ft out of the roof of Khushis. The building also houses the Liquid Rooms nightclub.
He added: "There were apartments with their lights on which had all been evacuated. Everyone was standing around outside talking on their mobile phones and saying how they could not believe what had happened. "There were apartments with their lights on which had all been evacuated," he said.
"Everyone was standing around outside talking on their mobile phones and saying how they could not believe what had happened.
"There is an ambulance special operations unit at the scene, a police incident van and lots of police officers and firefighters."There is an ambulance special operations unit at the scene, a police incident van and lots of police officers and firefighters.
"I was coughing and choking from the smoke just walking past, and there was water pouring down the street from the hoses that the fire crews were using.""I was coughing and choking from the smoke just walking past, and there was water pouring down the street from the hoses that the fire crews were using."
Well ablazeWell ablaze
A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service described all three fires as "major".A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service described all three fires as "major".
She said the roof of the restaurant had partially collapsed. Diners were evacuated but it is not known how many people were inside at the time.She said the roof of the restaurant had partially collapsed. Diners were evacuated but it is not known how many people were inside at the time.
"It has been chaotic, but we have pulled out all our resources. Very, very thankfully, there appear to have been no injuries," she said.
Ambulance staff confirmed they had vehicles at the scene, but said no-one had been taken to hospital.Ambulance staff confirmed they had vehicles at the scene, but said no-one had been taken to hospital.
Elsewhere, seven people were evacuated from flats in Frederick Street after a shop fire at 2100 GMT, and crews were also called to a fire at a sheltered housing complex, where a property was well ablaze when they arrived at 2130 BST.Elsewhere, seven people were evacuated from flats in Frederick Street after a shop fire at 2100 GMT, and crews were also called to a fire at a sheltered housing complex, where a property was well ablaze when they arrived at 2130 BST.