Portobello car fire: Edinburgh City Council carers help keep public safe while firefighters arrive

A driver had a narrow escape after he pulled over his car just moments before it burst into flames, with three Edinburgh City Council workers coming to the rescue before firefighters tackled the blaze.

The car was well-alight by the time firefighters arrived.

Edinburgh City Council carers Denise Demarco, Lee Rollo, Carol Forbes were on the scene at Brighton Place in Portobello this morning.

Denise says the car was passing by when there was a ‘pop’ noise at around 11am.

The driver pulled over as smoke began coming from the car, but just moment later the vehicle was engulfed in flames.

Luckily the carers were there to help redirect traffic while the fire brigade made their way to the scene, and no one was injured during the incident.

Denise told of the moment the car exploded.

She said: “We were just coming down the road when the car came round the corner and it made a 'pop' noise and he pulled in and there was smoke coming out.

“We asked him if he was okay and he had a wee look underneath and the next thing flames were coming out of it and then more and more.

"Carol ran up the street and stopped the traffic coming down and we got a guy to put his van across and I stood at the bottom to ensure no cars were coming up- so we were doing our traffic policing."

"We didn’t do badly for carers from Edinburgh council - we don’t just look after people, we do traffic now."

Denise added that the highlight was when the “hunky” fire men thanked the women for doing a “grand job” which Denise said made their day.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service thanked the women for doing a "grand job" which Denise said "made their day.”

An Edinburgh Council spokesperson said: “Well done to Denise, Lee and Carol for their quick thinking actions this morning. They’re a real credit to carers in the city and are to be commended for their efforts in preventing any traffic coming down the road while the car was on fire.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were alerted at 10.56am on Friday, December 11 to reports of one car well-alight on Brighton Place, Portobello, Edinburgh.

"Operations Control mobilised one fire appliance and firefighters extinguished the flames.

"There were no reported casualties and crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe."