Man rescued from West Granton fire fighting for life

A MAN rescued after fire ripped through his Granton flat was fighting for his life yesterday.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Apr 2018, 13:32 BST
Updated 6th Apr 2018, 10:34 BST

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Scene of the house fire at West Granton Road. Picture: TSPLScene of the house fire at West Granton Road. Picture: TSPL
Scene of the house fire at West Granton Road. Picture: TSPL

Four fire engines and more than 20 firefighters were in attendance to tackle the house fire, which is thought to have started on the top floor of a three-storey block of flats.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue service notified ambulance crews around 8.03am. They sent one accident-and-emergency ambulance, two special operation response units and a duty manager to the incident. Police were also called to the scene.

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Emergency services confirmed the victim was rushed to St John’s Hospital in Livingston where he remained in a critical condition.

The teaching hospital houses a world-renowned burns treatment unit.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze before the stuccoed building was ravaged by the flames, but the heat was so intense that two windows of the flat were blown out.

Emergency services left the scene after making sure the area was made safe.

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It is not clear if the other houses in the stairwell were evacuated as a result of the fire.

West Granton Road – a busy thoroughfare – was closed in both directions between Royston Mains Road and Pilton Drive North. All bus routes were diverted.

The route was reopened to all traffic by emergency services shortly after 9.15am.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman told the Evening News yesterday that one casualty had been taken away.

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In a statement, they said: “A man was taken to St John’s Hospital where he is still being treated.

“We assisted in the closure of the road.”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has launched an investigation into the fire to establish the cause.

A spokesman confirmed: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were alerted at 7.50am on Wednesday, 4 April to a fire in a flat in Edinburgh.

“Operations Control mobilised four fire engines to the incident on West Granton Road where firefighters extinguished the fire.

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“One casualty was passed into the care of Scottish Ambulance personnel and taken to hospital for treatment.

“Crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.

“An investigation will be taking place to establish the cause of the fire.”

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Related topics:Emergency servicesPolice