Firefighters have issued a stark warning to the public after a spate of serious house fires, including one which led to the death of a woman in Sutherland.
The incident in Rearquhar, near Dornoch, was one of a number of serious fires across the country over the weekend.
An elderly woman, named as 74-year-old Sheena Matheson, died in a fire at her home in the early hours of Monday morning.
It was the second fatal house fire of the weekend, after a man recovered from a home by firefighters in Dumfries on Friday evening was declared dead at the scene.
The weekend also saw people receive treatment from firefighters and ambulance crews following house fires across the country, including Portree and Wick.
It has led to one of Scotland’s most senior fire officers to launch a strongly worded call to action.
Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, the SFRS director of prevention and protection, said: “We are still seeing people killed and injured in fires that could easily be prevented and where working smoke alarms would have made all the difference.
“Firefighters across Scotland are out in their communities helping people stay safe, but reaching those at greatest risk is a constant challenge.
He added: “Older people, those who live alone, who have physical or mental health problems or issues with the misuse of alcohol or drugs – they’re all potentially vulnerable to fire.
“There are many things we can do to help them stay safe, but we can’t do them if we’re unaware someone is at risk. We need the public’s help to reach them before tragedy strikes.”
Mr Ramsay said the various incidents were a reminder of the importance of smoke alarms.
He said: “Where a home has working smoke alarms the people inside get early warning of a fire while it’s still small and before toxic smoke has filled the home.
“This means they are likely to get out with no injuries, or to need only precautionary check-ups for minor effects of breathing in small amounts of smoke.
“Without this early warning though the chances are a small fire will rapidly grow, fill the home with toxic smoke and produce devastating heat – all of which can prove fatal or cause lifelong and horrific injuries.
“It’s unbelievable that anyone should go without working smoke alarms. They’re absolutely life-saving devices.”