Fire at Easter Dalmeny Farm draws emergency response and health warnings
Firefighters mounted a substantial response to a large blaze after an oil tanker caught fire at Easter Dalmeny Farm, close to South Queensferry, shortly after 07:30 on Friday morning. The incident sent a dense plume of black smoke across the Firth of Forth, visible from across Edinburgh and prompting safety advice from emergency services.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) dispatched four fire engines and specialist resources to the scene on the B924 at its junction with the A90. Police Scotland enacted a temporary road closure while crews worked to contain the fire and mitigate risk to nearby homes and road users.
- Location: Easter Dalmeny Farm, South Queensferry
- Time reported: Shortly after 07:30
- Resources deployed: Four fire engines plus specialist units
- Road impact: B924 closed at its junction with the A90
Emergency services warned people in the vicinity to avoid the area while crews worked. Those living nearby were told to keep windows and doors closed as a precaution, and members of the public who could see or smell smoke but were not in the immediate area were given the same guidance.
"Due to levels of smoke in the area, we ask that members of the public avoid the area. If you live nearby, keep windows and doors closed as a precaution. If you are not in the immediate area but can see or smell smoke, please follow the same advice."
Visibility, travel disruption and local impact
The black smoke was conspicuous from the opposite bank of the Forth and from vantage points across Edinburgh, raising concern among commuters and residents. Officers from Police Scotland managed traffic around the incident to keep the public and emergency crews safe while containment work continued.
Transport users should expect knock-on effects while the scene remained active, particularly on the B924 and routes leading to the A90. Motorists travelling towards South Queensferry were advised to plan alternative routes until the road closure was lifted. At the time of reporting there was no indication of injuries, but the presence of an oil tanker meant crews approached the blaze with specialist appliances and tactics to reduce the risk of escalation.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Incident type | Oil tanker fire |
| Location | Easter Dalmeny Farm, South Queensferry |
| Crews on scene | 4 fire engines + specialist resources |
| Road closure | B924 at junction with A90 |
What residents should know
For those in Edinburgh and the surrounding area, the key advice is straightforward: avoid the area while emergency crews operate, and if you can see or smell smoke, remain indoors with windows and doors shut. Smoke from vehicle and fuel fires can carry hazardous particulates and odours that can irritate respiratory systems, particularly for people with underlying health conditions.
Local authorities and emergency services typically follow a phased approach in incidents of this nature: extinguishing the main fire, cooling hotspots, and then assessing contamination and structural risk. Given the involvement of an oil tanker, specialist firefighting foam and environmental protection measures may be required to prevent contamination of nearby land and watercourses.
Officials did not provide an immediate cause for the fire. Investigations and safety assessments customarily follow once an incident is under control. Residents and road users are advised to check Police Scotland and SFRS channels for updates and to heed any further public-safety announcements.
The incident underscores the continued importance of coordinated emergency response around busy transport corridors and rural industrial sites close to the city, and served as a reminder that even locations on Edinburgh’s outskirts can have significant knock-on effects for the city’s skyline and air quality.
