Digital News Report- A fire broke out in the Edinburgh city center at around 10:00pm Friday night at the Khushis Indian restaurant on Victoria Street. Hundreds have been evacuated and though Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service described the scene as “chaotic,” no injuries have been reported.
There have also been blazes reported at Rick’s bar on Fredrick and a housing shelter on Moredun Street. The BBC Scotland is reporting that witnesses have seen flames shooting from the top of the Khushis Indian restaurant up to 20 ft in the air. A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service described all three fires as “major”.
The Fire Chief stated that the blaze could burn for another two days. It took over 18 hours to get it under control. It appears that many of the historic buildings in Edinburgh’s old town will be saved, but many nearby properties have been damaged by smoke.
Edinburgh has many historically significant buildings dating back to the medieval period, including Edinburgh Castle, which sits on top of the Royal Mile. The old town, where the fires took place, is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tight passageways of the historic city center have made it difficult for Firefighters to tackle the blazes.