A man jumped to safety after a fire broke out in his first floor flat in Inverness.
Eyewitnesses described how the man leapt from the burning building just as the emergency services were arriving.
Firefighters were scrambled to the flat on Rosehaugh Road in the South Kessock area at about 8am yesterday.
A spokeswoman for the fire service confirmed that three crews had been sent to the scene and used hosereel jets and breathing equipment to bring the fire under control.
Several eyewitnesses in the street said the occupant of the flat, a man in his early 30s, jumped to safety with his flat well ablaze.
Alan MacMillan from Dufftown was visiting family who live on the street when he saw the drama unfold early yesterday morning.
He said there was a crowd of people who gathered around the flat urging the man to jump out because of the fire behind him.
Mr MacMillan said he believed the man had been removed from the property by the emergency services.
Several other eyewitnesses confirmed that he had jumped to safety.
Mr MacMillan said: “It was quite scary I guess.
“He was totally black with the smoke and the ambulance had him on oxygen.”
Another eyewitness, who asked to remain unnamed, said: “He jumped out just as the emergency services were arriving.
“It was the fire brigade who were there first.
“He was conscious but they gave him oxygen.”
The road was closed while firefighters worked at the scene.
The fire was brought under control at about 8.25am but emergency services remained at the scene for sometime afterwards.
Firefighters confirmed that there was some water ingress into the ground floor flat below, while the other properties were checked over for fire spread.
A spokeswoman confirmed that all persons associated with the semi-detached four-plex were accounted for.
A police spokeswoman confirmed one man was taken to accident and emergency at Raigmore Hospital for treatment to suspected smoke inhalation.
His condition is not believed to be serious.
An ambulance service spokesman said: “We received a call at 8.02am today from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to attend an address on Rosehaugh Road.
“We dispatched one ambulance, our special operations response team and an officer to the scene.
“One male patient was taken to Raigmore Hospital.”
