Emergency services raced to a block of flats on Tuesday after reports of a gas explosion in Edinburgh.
Officers from Police Scotland and fire crews were called out to the Tollcross area of the city.
Video and pictures from the scene at Fountainbridge showed smoke billowing out a flat.
Bricks from the tenement building appeared to have been blasted from the outer walls in the explosion with rubble left scattered on the ground.
It is not known at this stage if anyone has been injured in the blaze.
Fire crews began searching the building on Tuesday evening as they attempted to make the area safe.
Nine pumps and two height appliances were used to extinguish the flames at the building.
Calum Brown, from Dalgety Bay in Fife, works opposite the scene and said he felt the "glass office" shake.
The 23-year-old recruitment worker said: "I heard a bang then looked around and there was just dust rising from the ground.
"You could see smoke pouring from the chimney - I got there just before the first fire engine - you could see flames coming out of the window.
"Bricks were missing from the tenement building and had landed on the street.
"It was lucky that no-one was underneath at the time."
People had earlier taken to social media to say they heard an explosion near Tollcross Primary which is close to the flats.
@tobyfcook said on Twitter: "Flat just exploded beside Tollcross Primary in Edinburgh. Loads of fire engines and ambulance are here already.
"Looks like gas explosion."
As a result of the incident Fountainbridge was closed in both directions between Ponton Street and Gardner's Crescent.
Lochrin Terrace and West Tollcross were also sealed off.
A Police Scotland statement read: "Emergency services are in attendance following a report of an explosion and fire within a building in the Fountainbridge area at around 5pm today.
"Road closures: Lochrin Terrace, Ponton Street, West Tollcross and through to Gardner's Crescent."
Following the fire Tollcross Primary School and Nursery, which are close to the building, will be closed tomorrow.
Alasdair Perry, Deputy Assistant Chief Officer from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Incident Commander, said: "On arrival crews were confronted with a well-developed fire and visible structural damage.
“Firefighters were committed to search the building and commence both internal and external firefighting.
“We are working with our colleagues in Police Scotland and a number of other partner agencies to resolve this incident and make the area safe.
“I would like to thank all the firefighters and control staff involved in responding to this emergency and also our partners for their ongoing efforts.
“Due to the concern over the structural integrity of building it is anticipated that the surrounding streets are likely to remain closed for a period of time”.
