A senior Highland firefighter has highlighted a “tragic” rise in fatal house blazes across the north.
Five people have died in fires between January and March this year, a significant rise on the same period on the year before.
Local Senior Officer Scott Hay, Highland area manager, is to report the figures to Highland councillors this week.
The numbers have been released ahead of his appearance before the authority’s community safety, public engagement and equalities committee.
Mr Hay said: “Tragically the service in the Highland area attended a number of dwelling house fires over the reporting year which resulted in fatalities.
“These very tragic incidents impact on families and the wider communities and further reinforce the service and partner agencies determination in continuing to help those most vulnerable in our communities.
“Working in partnership is key to supporting vulnerable people. The service will continue to do this with the clear aim of eliminating these types of incidents entirely.”
No explanation has been given for the increase in fatal fires.
Just one person died in the same three month period in 2014 with a single fatality also recorded between January and March 2013. Two people died during the same three months in 2012.
Among those killed in fires in the last year were 93-year-old Lady Jean Gilmour who died at her home in Rosehall, Sutherland in February.
Two days later 38-year-old Colin Glen was found dead at his home in Strathspey Avenue in Aviemore after a fire.
A 68-year-old woman, Sandra Barton, also died in a blaze at her home in Lochend, Inverness-shire in January.
And 74-year-old Sheena Matheson died in March after a fire in her croft house at Rearquhar near Dornoch.
Mr Hay will also highlight to the committee this week a number of postitive steps taken by the fire and rescue service, including a reduction in non-fatal fire casualties and a drop in all deliberate fires.
The fire service has also been called to fewer road traffic accidents than previous years.