A MAN was taken to hospital after a fire in his bedroom in Irvine on Sunday night.

Fire crews from Dreghorn and Kilwinning rushed to a flat in Dickson Drive after receiving a 999 call at 9.45pm.

Firefighters arrived around six minutes later and provided oxygen therapy to the casualty, who was suffering from the effects of breathing in smoke.

He was passed to the care of paramedics before being taken by ambulance to Crosshouse Hospital near Kilmarnock.

The fire originated within a bedroom and was extinguished by fire teams wearing breathing apparatus and equipped with lines of hose. They searched the affected flat and neighbouring properties to confirm all persons were accounted for.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Anyone can experience a fire so it’s crucial every property is protected by working smoke alarms, which undoubtedly save lives by giving people time to get to safety and call 999.

“We also want people to take steps to reduce the chance of fires happening in the first place. Bedrooms often have a number of risks but these can very easily be addressed.

“It’s important never to overload electrical sockets and things like chargers for mobile phones, laptops and tablets can easily overheat, so they should always be disconnected after use.

“Candles should only ever be placed away from items that could easily catch fire, including clothing and furniture, and they should always be put out if someone isn’t in the room.

“Items like hair straighteners should always be used with care and never left switched on. People who smoke should never do so while in bed as they could all too easily set fire to bedding.” To join Scotland’s fight against fire and arrange a free home fire safety visit, call SFRS on the freephone number 0800 073 1999 or by texting ‘FIRE’ to 80800, which is also free of charge.

Alternatively, people can arrange a visit via the SFRS website www.firescotland.gov.uk.