Fire in Edinburgh Flat Sends Ten to Hospital

A fire in a block of flats on Niddrie Mill Crescent in Edinburgh forced residents to escape by jumping from balconies onto mattresses below, with Andrew Bond, 36, leaping from the first floor as thick black smoke filled the stairwell. Ten individuals were hospitalized following the incident, which occurred around 6:30 PM on November 6. Bond initially ignored the fire alarm, mistaking it for cooking, but quickly realized the danger when he saw the smoke. After alerting his partner Maureen and cousin William, who were later rescued by firefighters, he jumped to safety, suffering some injuries. Residents found their homes severely damaged by smoke and ash upon returning the next day. Police are investigating the cause of the fire, and all hospitalized individuals were later released after precautionary checks.