Ewan Williamson died at a fire in the Balmoral Bar,  Edinburgh on Sunday the 12th of July 2009.

 

At 0038 today Sunday 12th July 2009 crews from Lothian and Borders Fire Service responded to a fire in a public house in the Dalry area of Edinburgh. On arrival crews were confronted with a severe fire. Whilst tackling the fire a breathing apparatus crew of two firefighters was injured by the collapse of an internal floor. Tragically, despite the efforts of his colleagues one of the firefighters lost his life. The other firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary before being released earlier this morning.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service is devastated by this tragic event. Our Service is a close knit community and we are absolutely shattered by this loss and our thoughts are also with our injured colleague. Every single member of the Service is thinking about the family of the deceased firefighter and the family of our injured colleague. This is a tragic day for our Service.

This is the first death in Service in Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service since the early 1990s and this highlights the dangers of our chosen profession. It also highlights that there is no such thing as a routine incident. A full investigation is underway and the internal investigation team is being led by Mike Dunne, Director of Service Delivery, in full consultation with the FBU.

At the height of the incident a total of 16 fire appliances including 11 pumps attended with approximately 70 firefighters under the command of Alex Clark, Director of Human Resources,. The cause of the fire is not yet known and an investigation will be carried out by both Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service and the Police.

Once again can I express my sincere sympathies to the families of those involved and add my thanks to all the Firefighters and Emergency control staff who have dealt with these difficult circumstances so professionally. I know as a Service we will pull together to support each other through this very difficult time.

(Message from the Chief Fire Officer Brian Allaway.)

 

Firefighter Ewan Williamson was stationed at Tollcross Fire Station in Edinburgh. He was 35.

 

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service can confirm that a full Fire Service funeral ceremony for Firefighter Ewan Williamson will take place on Wednesday 22nd July 2009 in Edinburgh.

The details of the funeral are as follows:

  1. The day will begin with a private ceremony in Kinross at 1000hrs. The family have requested that members of the media respect their privacy on what will be an extremely difficult day for them and do not attend this ceremony.
  2. From Kinross the cortege will travel to Tollcross Fire Station, Edinburgh
  3. Firefighter Williamson’s coffin will be carried from this point on a (fire engine) turntable ladder. It will leave Tollcross Fire Station at 1255hrs.
  4. It will take a route along Lauriston Place passing Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service’s HQ, Forrest Road, George IV Bridge to St Giles’ Cathedral.
  5. Media presence has been agreed with the family for outside the ceremony at St Giles and during the parade in Edinburgh. A media area in Parliament Square West is planned.
  6. The Service at St Giles’ Cathedral will begin at approximately 1330hrs
  7. A private ceremony will be held at 1600hrs at Mortonhall Crematorium. Again the family have requested that members of the media respect their privacy at this private ceremony on what will be an extremely difficult day for them.

Firefighters from Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service will line the route, with Firefighters from Green Watch, Tollcross acting as a Guard of Honour. Area Manager John Dickie will lead the parade.

The Service welcomes members of the public who wish to pay their respects to Ewan to line the route of the parade.

 

 

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