Woman taken to hospital after escaping burning home

A WOMAN was rushed to hospital after apparently escaping from her burning home in the early hours of Saturday.

The 58-year-old was found unconscious on the grass outside the house in Whitehill Gardens, Musselburgh, at around 6am, with the house well alight.

She was suffering the effects of smoke inhalation and regained consciousness before being taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by ambulance, as firefighters continued to bring the blaze under control.

In a separate incident, firefighters led a woman to safety during a fire in a stairwell on Leith Walk at around 10.20pm on Friday.

Smoke from the fire had filled a flat in the stair and the woman was taken to the ERI by ambulance suffering from smoke inhalation, but was later discharged.

Firefighters used four sets of breathing apparatus and a high-pressure hose reel to bring the fire under control.