Edinburgh fire crews spend 30 minutes tackling bin blaze

A bin fire in Pilton has prompted a call out from the capital’s emergency services.

Firefighters were forced to put out a fire in a bin shed in Pilton this afternoon, possibly diverting resources away from more serious incidents.

Crews were called to Arneil Drive in Pilton, nextdoor to the Ainslie Park Leisure centre, at 5:11pm today.

The fire was put out with a single high pressure hose, and firefighters left the scene at 5:38pm.

According to SFAR stats, firefighters in Scotland were called to around 10,000 fires in bins, skips, and flytips last year. Credit: Scott Cuthbertson.

But while the incident was straightforward, it took up almost half an hour of the Scottish Fire and Rescue’s (SFAR) precious time.

According to SFAR stats, firefighters in Scotland were called to around 10,000 fires in bins, skips, and flytips last year.

It is estimated that a massive 90% of these incidents are started deliberately - often by children and young people.

The SFAR says average cost of each call out is a whopping £2,000, and in the current hot weather, small fires on grass and heathland can quickly spread out of control.

It comes as firefighters across Scotland battle a number of wildfires in rural areas.

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