POLICE are investigating a fire which broke out in a disused building at the former Fountainbridge brewery site.
A broken padlock was discovered at the scene indicating the blaze may have been started deliberately by intruders.
Firefighters were called to the former Caledonian Brewery building shortly before 6am, after several worried neighbours called 999 f
earing the fire would spread and create a major incident.
They battled the blaze for close to an hour before bringing it under control.
At times, five crews comprising 16 firefighters were deployed, with a turntable ladder used to direct water directly onto the flames from high above the 80ft building.
James Melvin, of Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue, said: "We found a broken padlock so it is looking like it might be suspicious.
"This building was due for demolition and had no roof. If it had a roof, the fire would have been more spectacular, due to the tars and bitumen found in roofs."
The huge Fountainbridge site is set for a major redevelopment which will transform the area.
The building which caught fire was set for demolition and the blaze is not expected to hold up work on a new £200 million residential and commercial development in Edinburgh city centre.
Once completed in 2009, the AMA & Grosvenor development project in Fountainbridge will be the biggest of its kind in the city.
Working on behalf of main contractor HBG, construction firm Dunne Group began bulk excavation works last August to make way for the east underground car park.
The next phase of the project will see Dunne constructing four new concrete-frame blocks, covering 2700 square metres.
There have been calls for increased security to make sure it is not vulnerable to vandalism or fireraising.
The full article contains 297 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
