Originally published on January 13th, 2009

Firefighters had a busy festive season as several of Edinburgh cultural hotspots went up in smoke.

December 20th saw three major blazes in the city, putting local fire brigades under considerable strain.

Khushi’s Indian restaurant on Victoria Street was gutted as flames ripped through the multi-storey building, causing diners to flee along with revellers at the popular Liquid Room nightclub, housed in the same building.

The scene was described by Lothian and Borders Police as ‘chaotic.’

University of Edinburgh student Sarah Jones told Student: "The flames were huge - they were at least 20ft into the sky. We were all moved out of the building and behind a police line from where we just watched as the roof collapsed in on itself."

She added: "It is such a shame such great venues have now disappeared."

Kathrin Mackenzie, events manager at Liquid Room told Student: "the club suffered extensive water damage and massive internal structural collapse" as fire-fighters pumped gallons of water to try and dampen the flames.

Utilising the full strength of the Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, all diners and clubbers escaped unscathed.

The fire came at a disastrous time for both establishments, forcing them to close during one of the busiest times of the year.

Both Khushi’s and Liquid Room will remain off-limits for a considerable period as a complete refurbishment commences and an investigation into the cause of the fire begins, according to a police spokeswoman.

On the same night, blazes were also reported at a sheltered housing complex in Moredun Park Street and a bar in Frederick Street.

The upmarket Rick’s Bar had to evacuate guests as ‘Edinburgh’s hottest venue’ became dangerously warm. The three incidents are not thought to be related.

The New Year brought even more challenges for the fire and rescue service.

Crowds in the Luna nightclub on Picardy Place, having opted to avoid the freezing New Year temperatures, saw midnight strike through the smoke of a blazing ceiling fire.

The club’s management, who had opted for indoor pyrotechnics to celebrate Hogmanay, seemed surprised when the fireworks set light to plastic ceiling netting.

Fortunately no one was seriously injured in the incident.