A brave dad escaped a fierce fire at his Scots home with his toddler son in his arms – while his partner and other children were left trapped in the building. Bradley Kinnell managed to get two-year-old son Argyle to safety after flames ripped through the block of flats where they live in Niddrie Mill Crescent, Edinburgh
Ten casualties rushed to hospital after residents were forced to jump from their balconies following the fire, which took hold at around 6.30pm on Wednesday, November 6, and saw firefighters battling the blaze for hours. Medics treated several people at the scene before the 10 casualties were taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
While Bradley had to run from the building, resident Andrew Bond was forced to leap from his 20ft balcony onto a mattress below. And Bradley has now told how he feared he would die as the fire took hold on the building. The 28-year-old said: “I went into the kitchen followed by my partner Nicola when I said to her ‘can you hear that noise’.
“It was the sound of a distant fire alarm and she then opened the balcony door and the sound became louder. She then said ‘can you smell that?’ I went to the balcony door and instantly the smell was overwhelming. I peered over the balcony and saw smoke. I instantly shouted to my older kids telling them to get something on and let’s get out.
“I rushed to the living room where Argyle was watching cartoons. I grabbed him and checked on Lachlan again, my partner got him quickly dressed and got Madison ready. As I swung the front door open, me and Argyle were consumed by smoke.” Bradley told Edinburgh Live he had finished bathing the children and was preparing them for school the next day when the chaos ensued.
He said he and his son pushed their way through the smoke but as soon as they cleared the first set of steps, it became thicker as Bradley covered Argyle’s mouth. He said at that point Nicola was still behind him with Lachlan and Madison and that he was terrified he could no longer hear or see Nicola and began to feel faint, debating turning and going back.
But he bravely leapt down from the last set of stairs with his son firmly gripped to his midriff. He added: “I quickly realised Nicola and the two kids weren’t with me and I could hear Nicola screaming ‘I’m stuck’. I handed Argyle to one of my neighbours and tried to go back in but the smoke was like a wall, I looked up and saw Nicola at the living room window and she just said ‘Brad, we are trapped’.
“I said to her try to get to the back room, I thought I could maybe get around the flat and get them out that way but the flames were on that side of the flat as well. She ran back and said we can’t. I then noticed there was a mattress lying in the neighbours garden, so with help from a neighbour nearby we dragged it under the window and told them to jump.
“Nicola placed Lachlan on the ledge first and he launched himself down, Madison followed but hesitated so Nicola urged her to go, and then finally, Nicola came down last. I got them to safety and tried to help my other neighbours out.” Bradley and the family were taken to hospital and checked out as he hailed the emergency services for their efforts in ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
But his home has now been left destroyed due to the smoke damage with clothes and furniture ruined. The family have been offered a temporary stay in a local Travelodge as his sister in-law has started a GoFundMe for vital supplies and clothing. Bradley added: “Luckily we all got out safe and sound but the house is completely blanketed with smoke.
“Our clothes, all furniture is just ruined, our back windows smashed with the heat and the kids Christmas which was all finished and in the cupboard closest to the door is completely done in. We are so grateful for the support of the community and emergency services.
“We have sadly not been given the go ahead yet to return home or to what’s left and there are no temporary houses for us, we were offered a week in a Travelodge. But I have mild cerebral palsy which affects my mobility so it’s easier to stay with family who can assist for now.” Bradley and his family are currently living in clothes borrowed from family.
They don’t know when they will be able to retrieve what survived inside their family home. To donate to their fundraiser, you can do so here. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted 6.35pm on Wednesday to reports of a dwelling fire at Niddrie Mill Crescent, Edinburgh.
“Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances and one height vehicle and firefighters extinguished a fire affecting a ground floor flat within a three-storey block of flats. A number of casualties were in the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service and received treatment at the scene.
“Crews left at 10.17pm after ensuring the area was made safe.” A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 6.40pm on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 we were called to a fire at a block of flats in Niddrie Mill Crescent in Edinburgh. Officers remain at the scene and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”