The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has been fined £54,000 after admitting health and safety breaches in connection with the death of one of its firefighters.

Ewan Williamson died while tackling a blaze in the basement of the former Balmoral Bar in Dalry Road, Edinburgh, on July 12 2009.

Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary Matt Wrack condemned the length of the time it has taken to reach a conclusion.

“Ewan Williamson died in the line of duty, serving his local community. It is unacceptable that this process has taken this long,” he said.

Mr Williamson was working for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service when he died after becoming lost and trapped in the burning building.

Andy Fulton, of Ewan’s old brigade, said: “Ewan was a friend to all who knew him and a brilliant firefighter and comrade. He will always be in our thoughts as we fight to improve the safety of all firefighters."

He was the only firefighter in the history of the Lothian and Borders Fire Service to die while tackling a blaze.

At last month’s hearing, the SFRS pleaded guilty to a single charge and admitted failing “to have in place an effective system of radio communication” and failing “to have in place an effective system of implementation of procedures for firefighters using breathing apparatus.”

It also admitted failing to ensure adequate training for firefighters.In a statement read outside court Mr Williamson’s family said that shortly before his death Mr Williamson had expressed concern about the lack of safety training being given to firefighters which he believed was due to budget cuts.

FBU officer Denise Christie welcomed the sentence but added that “the guilty conviction does not address some of the fundamental issues that arose from that incident.”