Police in Wick are investigating a suspected wilful fire raising incident in the town.
A curtain in a window of a property in the Battery Road area was reported to have been deliberately set on fire.
It happened at about 8.45am on March 5. Details of the drama were only revealed yesterday.
Pc Stuart Cormack of the Wick community policing team said: “Thankfully, the occupants of the property became aware of the fire very quickly and were able to safely extinguish it.
“This incident could have had a far worse outcome, particularly given the time of day. Most residents in the area would have been in their properties on a Sunday morning.
“Any fire that resulted from it could have quickly spread, causing risk of harm not only to the occupants of the property targeted but also their close neighbours.”
He added: “This act of gross recklessness will not be tolerated and I would ask anyone with any information about this incident to come forward as soon as possible.
“If anyone recalls seeing anything suspicious in the area at the time please call us on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous.”