Firefighters tackle blaze in Wester Hailes

FIREFIGHTERS were last night dealing with a large blaze at a derelict primary school in the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh.

The police said no casualties had been reported. Picture: HeMedia

The building, which used to be Hailesland Primary School, was found to be “very well alight” by firefighters just after 8:20pm.

The roof of the one-storey prefabricated building collapsed and flames and thick smoke could be seen across the area. More than 60 fire service personnel were called to the scene.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said: “It is a well developed fire.” Nobody was in the building and it is not yet known if the fire was started deliberately. The police said no casualties had been reported.

In a separate incident in the capital, firefighters were called to a blaze at Riccarton Mains Cottages just before 8pm. A property’s roof was said to be on fire following an electrical fault.

Meanwhile, a police chief has paid tribute to a retired force worker killed in a blaze at her home. Barbara Anderson worked in Inverness as a courts and warrants assistant for more than 30 years. The 51-year-old died in a fire in the city’s Leyton Drive on Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Julian Innes said: “Barbara’s sudden and tragic passing has been a deeply saddening experience for all who had the privilege of knowing her and she will be sorely missed.”