Two pensioners have been killed in separate “unexplained” house fires in the Highlands.
A man in Golspie – named locally as 83-year-old Robert Forrest – died at his home in the village’s Duke Street following a blaze.
The incident happened less than 24 hours after a woman in Ullapool, who was named locally as 93-year-old Sybil Grape, was killed in a fire at her home in Pulteney Street.
Police said both incidents were unexplained, and that family members had been informed.
Fire service investigators were at the scene of the blaze in Ullapool yesterday as they began trying to piece-together what happened.
Once witness described seeing “a lot of smoke”.
Meanwhile, a police officer was standing outside the home of Mr Forrest, who was a retired joiner.
East Sutherland and Edderton councillor Deirdre Mackay said: “This is tragic news, all the more so in a small community.
“Our thoughts are with the family at this very sad time. Sadly, this is the second loss of life to a house fire in East Sutherland in the past four weeks.”
Golspie-based Councillor Graham Phillips added: “It’s a very tragic incident, an untimely death diminishes us all.”
Last month, two men died and a woman was injured in separate house fires at Helmsdale, Loch an Eilein and Tarbet in the space of just 24 hours.
An Ullapool resident paid tribute to Ms Grape yesterday, who she said was originally from Austria and was active in the local branch of the Free Church.
“She was just a local treasure – a sweet Austrian woman,” she said.
“As she got older she would push her bicycle around and use it as a support. Her mother was a pianist. They moved here a very long time ago.
“She was a secretary at the council before she retired. She gave children in the area piano lessons. She loved her plants, her flowers and cats. A nice, nice woman.”
Wester Ross councillor Audrey Sinclair said: “Our thoughts go to the family at this time. I’m sure the investigation work will find the cause of the fire, but the main thing at the moment is the family.”
A police spokesman said: “Emergency services received a report of a house fire on Pulteney Street in Ullapool at around 3.29pm on Saturday.
“A cordon was established whilst police, fire and ambulance were in attendance at the scene.
“Police can confirm that a woman, the only resident within the property, sadly died as a result of the fire. Whilst next of kin have been informed, the woman’s name will not be released at this time.
“The cause of the fire is unexplained at this time and police inquiries remain ongoing.”
The force said yesterday’s fire at Golspie was reported around 10.55am.
A spokesman said: “Police attended at the address and can confirm that a man, the only resident within the property, has sadly died.
“The cause of the fire is unexplained at this time and police inquiries remain ongoing.”
A spokeswoman for the fire service said: “We were called out to a property in Golspie where there was reported to have been a fire.
“It was extinguished on arrival.”
She added that the property had suffered slight fire damage and smoke damage throughout the house.