Man charged after fire 'deliberately set' at St John's Hospital ward in Livingston

A man has been charged after a fire was ‘deliberately’ started at a hospital ward in West Lothian.

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.

A 39-year-old man has since been charged in connection with both incidents, and is due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court on Monday.

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.

“A 39-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection and is due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court on Monday, 17 March, 2025.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson added: “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.”