A FAMILY of five have lost all their belongings after a deliberate fire gutted their Tranent home in the early hours of Monday.

Members of the family and neighbours watched in horror as the blaze took hold of the property on Muirpark Drive at about 2am.

Two fire engines rushed to the scene and firefighters entered the semi-detached council house through the front door to battle the flames with a hose.

The East Lothian community has rallied round to support the family, who have “lost everything”, by making donations of children’s clothing, as well as financial aid, with a close friend launching an online fundraiser to help them find their feet.

The page reads: “Gail is a mum of three children and has a partner, a baby boy aged eight weeks, a girl aged three, and a boy aged eight.

“The family haven’t asked for this [appeal] but their family home in Tranent was destroyed in a house fire and they have only the clothes they had on at the time. I believe it’s important to give to others in their time of need.”

Neighbours told the Courier they believed only the mum and oldest child were in the house at the time of the fire and got out safely.

'The family need to start again'

The fundraising page added: “All their things are destroyed and the family need to start again.

“Everyone has been sending messages of support and asking how they can help.

“They are so grateful and overwhelmed at the love and comments they have received.

“The money raised will go direct to this family.”

The Courier was told the family did not wish to speak about the incident.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 2.50am on Monday, April 4, to reports of a fire affecting a building on Muirpark Drive, Tranent.

“Operations Control immediately mobilised two fire engines to the location and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire. Crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.”

'Treated as wilful'

A Police Scotland spokesperson added: “Officers received report of a fire at a property on Muirpark Drive in Tranent around 4am on Monday, April 4. The fire was extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“The fire is being treated as wilful and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

“Anyone with any information is being asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 0386 of April 4.”

One neighbour, who has lived on the street for several decades, told the Courier of the moment she was awoken by flashing lights and firefighters entering the burning home.

“It was the early hours of the morning when I was awoken by the sound of the fire engine,” she said.

“I was in bed and I had absolutely no idea it was a fire until I came downstairs to look out the window. Thankfully, everyone in the home had got out before they arrived.

“The family has two really wee kids, including a newborn baby, but I believe they were not in the house at the time.

“I did see the older boy but he got out safe.”

Neighbouring property affected

The fire also took hold of a neighbouring property, blowing out an upstairs and downstairs window of a home occupied by an elderly woman.

The neighbour added that the woman, in her 70s, was “shocked, shaken and upset” by the incident, but escaped the home safely.

A council spokesperson said: “We were alerted to a fire in the early hours of Monday morning which caused external and some internal damage to two council properties in Tranent. We are continuing to support the residents of both properties whilst repairs are carried out.”

It is understood the family could be rehomed at the end of this week.

Visit gofundme.com/f/dw4jv5-house-fire-destroys-family-home to donate.