Fire crews extinguish 'deliberate' blaze at St John's hospital ward in Livingston

Fire crews were called to tackle a “deliberate” blaze in a hospital ward in Livingston.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were called to St John’s Hospital around 10.47pm on Thursday after a blaze took hold inside a ward at the facility.

Three appliances and a height appliance were sent to the scene, and crews later left the area before 1am.

Police Scotland attended and said there were no reported injuries.

Officers were then called to another blaze at a nearby premises on Howden West Road around 11pm.

Both fires are being treated as wilful as enquiries remain ongoing.

A blaze broke out at the same hospital in November last year with no reported injuries.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 11.05pm on Thursday, March 13, 2025, officers received a report of fires at a hospital and a nearby premises on Howden West Road, Livingston.

“The fires were extinguished and there were no reported injuries. The fires are being treated as wilful.

“Officers are following a positive line of enquiry.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 10.47pm on Thursday, March 13 to reports of a fire within St John’s Hospital in Livingston.

“Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances and a height appliance to the scene, and the fire was extinguished.

“There were no casualties, and crews left the scene after ensuring the area was safe.”