Firefighter injured

A firefighter has been injured while attending a deliberate blaze.

The crew member suffered minor injuries to his arm and shoulder during the incident at West Main Street in Whitburn on Saturday night, which police are treating as wilful fireraising.

Police Scotland said five youths were also treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and officers say they believe that the fire was started deliberately in an unoccupied building.

The firefighter was treated at the scene before being taken to St John’s Hospital in Livingston and has since been released.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police in West Lothian were called to an unoccupied building in the West Main Street area of Whitburn at 8pm on June 17, following a report of a fire.

“A firefighter was taken to St John’s Hospital with minor injuries to his arm and shoulder.

“Five youths were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, with two taken to St John’s as a precaution.

“This incident is being treated as wilful fireraising and officers are following positive lines of enquiry.”

At least three fire engines, two police vehicles and several unmarked emergency service cars attended.

A spokesperson from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “The Scottish Fire and Service was alerted at 7.59pm on June 17 to reports of a fire within an unoccupied building in Whitburn.

“Operations Control immediately mobilised a number of fire engines to West Main Street.

“Several casualties were transferred into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

“The fire was extinguished at 8.23pm and firefighters ensured the area was safe before leaving at 9.28pm.

“A firefighter sustained minor shoulder and arm injuries and was taken to St John’s Hospital as a precautionary measure and later released.”