Neighbours’ tributes to man killed in fire

Michael Chambers died at the scene after being hauled from the burning building on Restalrig Road shortly after 4am yesterday.

His father, Harvey, 64, survived and was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary suffering from chest pains and the effects of smoke inhalation.

Paramedics spent almost 15 minutes trying to resuscitate the 37-year-old former Leith Academy pupil in front of shocked onlookers.

But Michael, who had underlying health problems and lived with his dad, could not be revived.

One neighbour said the area was in shock.

She said: “It’s so sad, they were such a nice family. I’ve known them for a long time and it’s terrible what has happened. I could cry for them.

“Michael went to school with my son, they were in the same year. It’s no age for him to go at all.

“He was lovely, just a really nice guy who wouldn’t be a bother to anyone. He kept himself to himself really.

“It’s an awful thing to  happen and makes you realise how lucky you are.”

Neighbours in the two-storey block of flats were evacuated after the fire was spotted by a passing police officer who raised the alarm.

One man, who asked not to be named, said the block was evacuated by police as the stair filled with smoke.

He said: “I saw thick black smoke billowing out from  Harvey’s window.

“He was put into an ambulance, but his son was lying in the stair with medics round about him – it looked like they were trying to do CPR. This went on for about ten or 15 minutes.

“I was woken up by the lights and sirens of the emergency workers.”

Another resident said: “They’re a really nice family and have been here for as long as I remember. It’s really  sad.”

Investigations are ongoing into what caused the fatal blaze but Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it is not being treated as  suspicious.

• A house was gutted after a fire in Lochend last night.

Nobody is thought to have been injured in the blaze, which began in the kitchen of a home in Sleigh  Gardens.

The surrounding street  was cordoned off as four appliances extinguished the  blaze.