Fire chiefs have urged members of the public to check in on neighbours and family members who are elderly or vulnerable after two pensioners died in Highland blazes.
Separate house fires claimed the lives of 83-year-old Robert Forrest in Golspie and Sybil Grape, 93, in Ullapool at the weekend.
The tragedies mean that four elderly people have been killed in fires in the Highlands in the last month.
Willie Lorimer, who was in his 80s, was killed on January 24 after a fire at his home near Rothiemurcas, one day after a 71-year-old man died after being rescued from a blaze at his home in Helmsdale.
The fire service said yesterday it was “particularly concerned” about elderly and vulnerable people who live alone.
It encouraged nearby residents to regularly check on their friends, neighbours and relatives to ensure they are safe and have working smoke alarms.
Scott Hay, local senior officer for Highland, said: “These two fires at the weekend were very tragic indeed and obviously our thoughts are with their families and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
“We will be carrying out post domestic incident responses in the Ullapool and Golspie areas, speaking to residents about home fire safety and offering them free home fire safety visits.”
On Sunday, the fire crew from Golspie was alerted by police to an incident at the village’s Duke Street.
When they arrived the fire was already out, but Mr Forrest’s body was found inside the house.
The incident happened less than 24 hours after Ms Grape died.
Crews from Ullapool and Achiltibuie arrived within minutes of the call to her home in Pultney Street, and found her body after using breathing apparatus to enter the house.
Rev Alasdair Macleod, Free Church minister in Ullapool, paid tribute to the former secretary last night.
“As well as joining with us when she could for Sunday morning worship services over the past couple of years, Sybil was a regular attender at our monthly Evergreen Lunchclub which we run for the ‘seniors’ in the community,” he said.
“A highly intelligent and fiercely independent woman, Sybil’s death has brought a general sense of sadness to our community and congregation.”