A mother and her two young children had to flee their house in Muir of Ord after fire broke out in a bedroom.
Neighbours called emergency services after they heard screaming coming from across the street on Monday night.
A young mother, her three-year-old son and nine-month-old baby escaped to safety after discovering the blaze in their semi-detached bungalow in Corrie Gardens at around 9.45pm.
The neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “My wife came running down the brae at about 9.45pm and I heard a rattle at the door and a child screaming. It could have been tragic.
“The smoke was terrible and the flames were coming out about 6ft out of the window.”
He added he called the fire service when the family came to his house.
Each of them was checked by a paramedic for smoke inhalation and a woman living in the bungalow next door was also treated.
Two hose reel jets, a covering jet and a thermal imaging camera were all used to ensure the fire, which lasted more than two hours, was fully extinguished.
Yesterday one of the bungalow’s windows was boarded up and the living room walls appeared to be blackened.
A large pile of debris could also be seen lying outside in the front garden yesterday.
Two fire engines from Dingwall attended, along with one from Beauly.
A fire service spokeswoman said that the bedroom was totally destroyed, with smoke and heat damage to the rest of the house.