Firefighters Battle Oil Tanker Blaze at Farm Near Edinburgh 2026

Key Points

• Fire erupted in an oil tanker in Easter Dalmeny Farm, South Queensferry, in the outskirts of Edinburgh on Friday, 7 August 2026.
• The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received information at 07:36 that there was an oil tanker burning.
• A total of four fire engines were dispatched to the scene.
• A huge plume of dark smoke could be seen rising from the area.
• The police shut down the B924 road at its junction with the A90.
• The Lothian Buses redirected their number 43 bus away from Main Street Dalmeny.
• People who lived in close proximity were warned not to visit the vicinity and close all their windows and doors due to the presence of excessive smoke.
• It was later found that the fire was under control; however, there was still some smoke rising from the site.

Edinburgh Fire (Edinburgh Daily) August 07, 2026 — firefighters tackled an oil tanker fire at Easter Dalmeny Farm near Edinburgh after the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called shortly after 07:30. Four fire engines and specialist units were sent to the incident, while Police Scotland closed a nearby road and warned drivers to avoid the area.

The fire produced a substantial column of black smoke that could be seen from areas around uk/local/south-queensferry/">South Queensferry and beyond. Smoke was visible across the Forth, including from the opposite side of the river, while Edinburgh News reported that plumes could be seen from Edinburgh Airport, approximately five miles from the scene.

What happened at Easter Dalmeny Farm?

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it was alerted at 07:36 on Friday, 7 August, to reports of an oil tanker well alight near Dalmeny, South Queensferry. The vehicle was reported to have caught fire in the courtyard at Easter Dalmeny Farm.

The Edinburgh Reporter said the incident began shortly after 07:30 and described the burning vehicle as apparently an oil tanker. The publication later reported that the fire had been extinguished, although smoke continued to be visible several hours after the blaze began.

The available reports did not confirm how the fire started, whether the tanker was carrying fuel at the time or whether any surrounding buildings or agricultural equipment were damaged. No cause had been announced by the fire service or police in the information reviewed.

The incident took place near Dalmeny, a village close to South Queensferry and the A90. Its location meant the fire was visible from a wide area and affected nearby roads and bus routes while emergency services worked at the farm.

How did firefighters respond to the blaze?

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dispatched four fire appliances and one specialist appliance to the scene. BBC News reported that four fire engines and specialist units attended Easter Dalmeny Farm as crews worked to extinguish the fire and manage the smoke.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 7.36am on Friday, August 7, to reports of an oil tanker well alight near Dalmeny, South Queensferry.”

The spokesperson said emergency services were at the scene and advised motorists to use another route. The public was also asked to avoid the area, while anyone affected by smoke was told to keep windows and doors closed.

Firefighters were required to deal with a vehicle carrying or believed to be carrying oil, creating additional concerns because of the risk posed by burning fuel and thick smoke. The reports did not provide details of the firefighting methods used or state how long crews were expected to remain at Easter Dalmeny Farm.

The sources also did not provide information about the condition of the tanker after the fire or confirm whether the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service would conduct a further investigation at the site.

Why were nearby residents told to close windows and doors?

People living near the farm were advised to keep their windows and doors closed because of the high level of smoke. The advice was issued as a precaution while emergency crews dealt with the fire and smoke spread around Dalmeny and South Queensferry.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service asked members of the public to avoid the immediate area. It also advised people affected by smoke to keep their homes closed to the outside air while the emergency response continued.

The guidance applied to residents and others in the surrounding area who could see or smell smoke. People who were not immediately next to the farm were also advised to follow the same precaution if smoke reached their homes.

The reports did not include air-quality readings or details of a formal public health warning. They also did not say whether the smoke affected schools, businesses or flights operating from Edinburgh Airport.

Which roads were closed after the fire?

Police Scotland closed the B924 at its junction with the A90 at South Queensferry. The closure followed a report of a vehicle fire at approximately 07:50 on Friday morning.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The B924 is closed at its junction with the A90 at South Queensferry, following a report of a vehicle fire around 7.50am on Friday, 7 August, 2026.”

The spokesperson said emergency services were at the scene and asked motorists to use another route. The restriction was introduced to support the emergency response and keep traffic away from the fire.

The Herald reported that a busy junction was closed while emergency services worked to extinguish the vehicle fire. The report did not give a reopening time for the B924.

Drivers travelling through South Queensferry, Dalmeny or nearby routes were advised to allow additional time and follow any diversion signs. The reports did not identify a separate alternative route for every road user.

How were Lothian Buses services affected?

Lothian Buses diverted its number 43 service away from Main Street Dalmeny because of the road closure. The service was rerouted via Kirkliston Road and the A90 in both directions.

Edinburgh News reported that buses could not serve Main Street Dalmeny until further notice. The operator said the diversion would remain in place while the road closure prevented buses from using their normal route.

The Edinburgh Reporter also reported the number 43 diversion and advised passengers to check the operator’s latest service information before travelling.

The reports did not specify which individual stops were missed, how long journeys were expected to take or when normal services would resume. Passengers using the number 43 route may therefore have faced delays or needed to walk to alternative stops during the emergency response.

How far could the smoke be seen?

The smoke plume was visible from several locations in and around Edinburgh. BBC News reported that a substantial column of black smoke could be seen from across the Forth, including from the opposite side of the river.

Edinburgh News said thick plumes were visible from the surrounding area and could be seen from Edinburgh Airport, which it placed around five miles from the fire.

The Edinburgh Reporter published photographs credited to Alan Simpson showing the fire at Easter Dalmeny Farm. Its report said smoke remained visible hours after the blaze began.

The visibility of the smoke prompted concern among local residents and attracted attention beyond the immediate area. However, the reports did not state that the smoke caused disruption to airport operations or confirm any impact on flights.

What did police and fire services say about public safety?

Police Scotland’s main public instruction was for drivers to avoid the closed section of the B924 and use another route. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service separately asked the public to stay away from the area while crews dealt with the fire.

Residents and people affected by smoke were told to shut windows and doors. People who could see or smell smoke, even if they were not in the immediate vicinity, were advised to take the same precaution.

The available reports did not confirm any injuries, fatalities or evacuations. They also did not say whether the farm was occupied when the fire began or whether nearby properties required emergency assistance.

No statement confirming the cause of the fire was included in the reports reviewed. Further information may be provided by Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service or the site owner if an investigation establishes how the blaze started.

What details remain unconfirmed?

Several aspects of the incident remained unclear in the initial reports published on 7 August. These included the exact circumstances in which the tanker caught fire, the extent of any damage at Easter Dalmeny Farm and whether the vehicle was carrying oil or another material.

The duration of the road closure was also not confirmed. The number 43 bus diversion was described as continuing until further notice, but no timetable was given for restoring the normal route.

The reports also did not provide a confirmed assessment of the smoke’s effect on air quality or explain whether environmental checks had been completed. Information about injuries was limited, and the sources reviewed did not report any casualties.

The Edinburgh Reporter said the fire had been extinguished, but the continuing presence of smoke meant that public safety advice and travel restrictions remained relevant after the main flames were dealt with.

What is the background to the development?

Easter Dalmeny Farm is near Dalmeny and South Queensferry, west of Edinburgh and close to major transport links including the A90. The B924 connects with the A90 at South Queensferry, making the junction important for local traffic and people travelling between nearby communities.

The incident was reported as a vehicle fire involving an oil tanker rather than a wider fire across the farm. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service nevertheless sent four appliances and specialist units because of the nature of the vehicle and the amount of smoke produced.

The road closure, bus diversion and advice to close windows and doors were precautionary measures introduced while emergency services controlled the scene. The reports did not indicate that the fire was suspicious, nor did they publish a confirmed explanation for its origin.

The initial coverage came from BBC News, The Edinburgh Reporter, Edinburgh News and The Herald. Author names were not displayed in the accessible versions of the reports used for this article, so statements have been attributed to the relevant publication or emergency service.

How could the fire affect local residents and travellers?

The immediate effect for residents is likely to be continued caution around smoke, particularly for people living closest to Easter Dalmeny Farm. People in the affected area should follow instructions from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland, avoid the incident site and keep windows and doors closed if smoke is present.

Motorists may face delays or altered routes while the B924 junction with the A90 remains closed. Bus passengers using route 43 may need to allow extra travel time because services are being diverted through Kirkliston Road and the A90.

The smoke’s visibility from Edinburgh Airport and across the Forth means the incident may continue to attract attention across the wider region. However, the available reports do not confirm any effect on airport operations, flight schedules or wider transport services.

The next significant developments are likely to be confirmation that the road has reopened, restoration of the number 43 route and any update on the cause of the fire. Until those details are issued, residents and travellers should rely on updates from the emergency services and Lothian Buses rather than assume that normal conditions have returned.