An Edinburgh resident has spoken of how a large bin fire woke her up in the dead of night and says that she fears the fires that plagued the community last year have returned.
The fires were understood to have broken out at around 03:45am on Wednesday, August 24, on the residential Lorne Street in Leith.
Claire Wallace, 34, said that the “flames were really high” and that cars that were parked next to the bins could have caught fire and blown up.
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She says that it is very concerning considering the bin fires that troubled the Leith area last year and adds that she hopes trouble makers have not returned again this summer.
The 34-year-old nursery practitioner said: “The fire broke out just before 04:00am this morning and there was a loud bang. I looked out my window and the flames were really high.
“The bang woke us all up. Several people called the fire brigade.
“I live on Lorne street and this is the first bin fire we have had this year. Although we had several last summer.
“As a resident, this is concerning, especially after the bin fires last year. Cars that were next to the bins could have been lost as the flames grew higher but luckily they were okay.
“People’s homes could be destroyed due to some idiots. I just hope the people who were causing the fires last year are not back causing trouble.
“There is no need for it. I don’t know what caused the fires but with all the bins overflowing due to the strikes, it was most likely due to that.
“I spoke with neighbours who said that apparently a taxi driver informed the fire Brigade of another bin fire on Easter road.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to respond to a bin fire at around 03:46am. One appliance was in attendance at the scene.
“There were no reports of any injuries and a cause of the fire has yet to be established.”
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