Police in hospital after flat fire rescue bid

TWO police officers were taken to hospital after attempting to rescue a man from a burning flat before firefighters reached the scene.

The officers, who saw smoke billowing from a top floor flat in Seafield Road East, Edinburgh, in the early hours of yesterday, tried to rescue the man trapped inside but were beaten back by smoke. Both suffered the effects of smoke inhalation.

The occupant of the flat was rescued by firefighters and taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary suffering from smoke inhalation.

Yesterday he was described as being in a "serious condition".

The fire broke out in the kitchen and was discovered shortly after 1:30am by a neighbour, who called the emergency services.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "Two police officers who attempted to enter the flat were beaten back by smoke and the male occupier was subsequently rescued by firefighters who arrived shortly afterwards. There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances."

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said a 999 call had been received at 1:36am on Sunday morning and the first fire appliance arrived at 1:44am.

The spokeswoman said: "One hose reel and eight breathing apparatus were used and four pumping appliances and five special appliances were on scene.

"One male, aged 55, was rescued by fire fighters and taken to hospital.

"Two police officers were also taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation. They were on the scene when the fire brigade arrived."

In a separate incident, a 13-year-old girl jumped from a bedroom window to escape a fire at a house in Anne Street, Bathgate, West Lothian.

The teenager jumped on to a garage roof before climbing down to safety after a fire broke out shortly after 8am yesterday.

The teenager did not require hospital treatment.