Man badly injured as blaze rips through flat

A MAN has been rushed to hospital with severe burns to his face after a fire broke out at a block of flats in Edinburgh this morning.

The 60-year-old was rescued by fire crews after the blaze took hold of two flats in Parkgrove Bank in Clermiston around 5am this morning.

Two firefighters wearing breathing gear entered the ground floor of the burning building and brought the man to safety as their colleagues fought the blaze around them.

Paramedics treated the man at the scene for burns to his face and arms before taking him to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

A seven-year-old boy, a 51-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, were also treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

The rest of the building was evacuated while fire crews brought the blaze under control.

Residents spoke of their horror of seeing their neighbour, named locally as Mr Graham Moffat, lying in the garden with severe burns being treated by firefighters and paramedics.

Neighbour Ron Perkins, 33, an HGV driver who has lived at the flat above with his two dogs for just three weeks, said: "I woke up when my dogs started barking and the smoke alarm went off a few seconds later.

"I came out of my bedroom and the flat was filled with smoke. I saw my neighbour lying on the grass outside. He was in a bad way.

"I could see his arms were all burned. It was a bit of a shock. I got my dogs and ran down the stairs to get out. I could see the guy's house was a hell of a mess.

"We were given oxygen and I was being sick. I was concerned for my neighbour Deborah and her wee grandson Aiden but they got out okay."

Deborah Smith, 51, who also lives in the block, said: "My fire alarm didn't work but I woke up and saw the firemen jumping out of the engine.

"The guy from downstairs was already in the garden, he was jet black. It was awful. He looked terrible. All burned.

"We were told to stay inside while they handled the fire. When me and Aiden (seven] did get out we were being sick.

"Afterwards one of the firefighters said he (Mr Moffat] was touch and go."

A spokesman for the ambulance service confirmed a 60-year-old man had been taken to hospital with serious burns.

A fire spokeswoman said investigations were under way into the incident and 15 personnel and three appliances were involved.