The roads surrounding a street in West Lothian remains closed today following a ferocious fire that burned into the early hours of this morning.
Melbourne Street and Craigshill Road remained closed today as police carry out further investigations into the cause of the fire, after a 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident.
Emergency crews raced to the scene last night and up to 15 fire engines have been tackling the fire overnight.
Local residents at Katherine Street in the Craigshill area posted images on social media last night as the towering inferno ripped through the building.
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One anonymous resident said: "I've never seen anything like it. So many stories were being thrown about, and I'm just glad nobody seems to be injured.
"It's just too close to home, really scary stuff to see."
Fortunately, it seems at this early stage that only one person was treated for smoke inhalation, but officers have told Edinburgh Live that local residents have been decanted from their homes for their safety.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.45pm on Thursday, 27 January, officers received a report of a fire at a block of flats in Katherine Street, Livingston.
"One person was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but did not require hospital treatment. A number of residents required alternative accommodation.
"A 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with wilful fireraising and police enquiries are ongoing.”
The fire and rescue service also informed Edinburgh Live that they were still at the scene this morning.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 8.35pm on Thursday, January 27 to reports of a fire within a ground floor flat in a four-storey building in Katherine Street, Livingston.
“Operations Control mobilised 15 appliances, three height appliances and specialist resources to the scene and firefighters are working to extinguish the fire.
“Crews currently remain in attendance.”
West Lothian club Livingston Football Club have tweeted out their support to those affected by the fire, and are running a food and clothing donation service to those who have been evacuated from their homes.
Posting on Twitter, the official club account said: "Everyone at the club was saddened to hear of the devastating fire that broke out in Katherine Street, Craigshill last night.
"We'll be running a food & clothing collection to support those affected ahead of Tuesday's game with @StJohnstone. Details here - https://bit.ly/35w4KJf."
New photos sent to Edinburgh Live from local residents show the plumes of smoke rising into the sky late last night, as firefighters tackled the blaze.
The Tower Bar in Craigshill have also put out a message to those affected by the fire, that they can seek refuge inside their establishment, in a post on Facebook.
The post reads: "If any of the residents of Katherine Street affected by the fire want to come down to the Tower Bar, we'll get you in for some warmth."
Hannah Bardell, SNP MP for the constituency of Livingston posted a tweet supporting the Tower Bar's donation service, saying: "An incredible response from the community of Craigshill and beyond to the devastating fire last night, if you can help by donating money, vouchers, household items, clothes etc the @TowerBar_1968 in Craigshill are collecting ."
The bar have also created a JustGiving page to help raise money for those affected, which can be found here.
