Firefighter dies in Scottish pub blaze

EDINBURGH, Scotland, July 12 (UPI) -- A floor collapsed during a blaze at a Edinburgh pub, causing the death of a Scottish firefighter and injuring another, officials said.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue officials said the men were part of team wearing breathing equipment that had entered the burning Balmoral Bar after closing time Saturday night, when the floor collapsed beneath them, The Guardian reported.

Others among the 70 firefighters at the scene rushed to rescue their colleagues, but one of them died, LBFR chief fire officer Brian Allaway told the newspaper.

"Tragically despite the efforts of his colleagues, one of these firefighters lost his life," said Allaway. "LBFR is a close-knit community and we are all devastated by this loss and concerned about our injured colleague. The thoughts of every single member of the service are with the families of the firefighter and our injured colleague. This is a tragic day for our service."

The surviving injured firefighter was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, the newspaper said, adding the cause of the fire was under investigation.