Firefighters have been praised after rescuing a family from a fire at a block of flats.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene of the blaze in Musselburgh, East Lothian, following a series of calls from worried residents at around 8.30pm on Wednesday night.
Homeowners were evacuated onto the street as firefighters tackled the fire but at least one family were trapped in their flat due to thick smoke.
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A 33-year-old man has now been arrested in connection with the incident.
Children could be seen hanging out a bedroom window in an effort to stay away from the smoke and the family were eventually led down the badly damaged stairwell by a fire crew.
It is believed the fire started in the flat stair and images show the exterior of the building suffered scorch marks and smoke damage.
Three appliances were in attendance along with two ambulances and police officers,
One resident , who did not wish to be named, said: “It was around 8.30 when I started to smell smoke coming from outside. Then a couple of smoke alarms went off and I knew something was up.
“I opened the door to my flat and the whole stair was filled with thick black smoke.
“We managed to get out into the street and banged on a few neighbours’ doors to alert them before calling the fire brigade.
“Unfortunately a couple of families on the upper floors couldn’t get down due to the thick smoke in the stair and were effectively trapped.
“The kids were hanging out the window of one flat and panicking a bit and at one point I thought they would have to be rescue through the open window.
“But the brave firefighters managed to get up the stair and break their front door down to get them all out safely.
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“They were so professional and did a really great job - we were all so impressed.
“I know the family involved were so grateful to those guys because really they are putting their lives on the line for us.”
Last night, a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said no one had been injured during the incident.
They said: “We received a call at 20:43 on Wednesday, April 20 to a house fire in Bellfield Court.
“Three appliances were dispatched to the scene.
“We remain in attendance at this time.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a fire in a stairwell at Bellfield Court in Musselburgh around 9pm on Wednesday, 20 April.
“A number of properties in the block were evacuated safely and the occupants checked at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“The fire was extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
“A 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and enquiries are ongoing.”
