A MAN was taken to hospital following a fire in Ormiston yesterday evening following an "explosion".

Residents reported hearing "a bang" at a residential property which led to nearby homes being evacuated.

Eyewitnesses say that as many as seven fire engines and two ambulances were on scene with others saying a man was left "pretty badly burned on his whole body".

It is thought the cause was an exploding gas canister but this has not been confirmed.

Scott Gillies, chair of Ormiston Community Council, said he was walking his dog at the time when he "heard a bang and saw smoke" and he rushed to the scene.

East Lothian Courier: The aftermath of the fire at the affected property. Image Larney CavannaghThe aftermath of the fire at the affected property. Image Larney Cavannagh

He described what he saw as being "quite a mess" and the incident itself as "pretty shocking".

He also praised residents for all of their help, saying: "All of the local residents were great and helping bring things like water and wet blankets to everyone.

"Some young guys were going into other houses and houses of disabled people and helped get them out.

"I spoke to a guy this morning who lives in the flat above and he reported smoke damage so there must be smoke damage to other properties.

"It was quite frightening to see it all; all of the windows at the flat have all been blown out."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said that officers were called at about 6.55pm to a block of flats on Hillview Court near the village’s Main Street and Co-op store.

The fire was then extinguished.

A 48-year-old man was taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

There was still a police presence in the village this morning with some areas taped off and inaccessible.

The spokesperson added that enquiries were ongoing into the exact circumstances of the fire.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “At 6.46pm on Wednesday (August 25), Operations Control mobilised six appliances to Hillview Court, Ormiston, to extinguish a fire affecting the ground floor of a terraced property.

“One casualty was in the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service and crews left after ensuring the area was made safe.”