Fatal fireman working on day off

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Firefighters paid their respects to their colleague with a minute's silence

The firefighter killed as he helped save more than 20 people from a burning Edinburgh tenement was working overtime on his day off, it has emerged.

Ewan Williamson, 35, died when a floor gave way at the Balmoral bar in Dalry Road, after a blaze broke out in the early hours of Sunday.

Colleagues of the first Lothian and Borders firefighter in living memory to die in a fire held a minute's silence.

Firefighters and control room staff laid a wreath at the bar on Monday.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that Mr Williamson was working overtime on the day he died.

The fire service and police have launched a joint investigation into the incident.

Ewan Williamson, 35, died when a floor collapsed

Another fireman was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he was treated for smoke inhalation.

It took until about noon on Sunday to put the fire out. The building was too hot to enter to start the investigation until Monday.

More than 20 people were rescued from the flats above the pub and seven were taken to hospital, mainly suffering from smoke inhalation.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known but deputy chief fire officer Alex Clark, who was the incident commander, said it appeared to have started in the basement of the bar, which was just closing around the time of the fire.

Police said it was "far too early" to say whether the blaze was suspicious.

Meanwhile, Mr Williamson's family paid tribute to him in a statement issued through the fire service.

They said: "This has come as a horrific shock to the family. Ewan was a wonderful, kind, sporty and outgoing person who was loved by everyone.

"He loved the fire service. We would ask that the public remember members of the service who risk their lives every day."

Mr Williamson is survived by his mother, two sisters and his girlfriend.

Edinburgh City Council has given temporary housing to five families evacuated during the fire.

Pauline Morrison, Fire control watch manager, said: "We came to pay our respects. We work so closely together. We work as a team. Everyone is devastated, completely devastated."