Published: Thursday, 11th March, 2010 6:00am

Trio escape 'intense' late-night house fire unharmed

by Bryan Copland

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A BLAZE at a first floor flat in Tranent in the early hours of Sunday morning caused "extensive damage" to the property - though the three occupants escaped unharmed.

Four fire appliances were called to the incident in Northfield at about 1.30am after receiving reports of a bedroom alight. One man, thought to be the main occupant, was treated for smoke inhalation by firefighters and paramedics, while it is believed two others who were in the property at the time were unharmed.

Crews extinguished the blaze using a high pressure hose reel jet and four breathing apparatus, though units remained in the vicinity for up to two hours to ensure it did not reignite.

Firefighters from Tranent, Musselburgh and Newcraighall were all called to the council-owned property, along with three special appliances from Edinburgh.

A fire service spokesman told the Courier: "There was extensive smoke damage throughout the property, caused by quite a serious fire within the back bedroom.

The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes but we looked to ensure that there were no signs of the fire spreading. All the rooms were smoke damaged - the fire was very, very hot. Our men in breathing apparatus said the heat was quite intense."

He added that burning bedding caused "thick smoke" in the property which made it difficult for firefighters to find the source of the blaze.

An East Lothian Council spokeswoman confirmed that the property's tenants had been relocated to temporary accommodation following the fire, and would remain there while the local authority's property maintenance staff carried out repairs to their smoke-damaged home.