A pensioner feared to have died in a devastating house fire was last night described as the “heart and soul” of her community.
An investigation was launched after Joan Rennie’s cottage in the north-east coastal village of Crovie was destroyed in a mystery blaze.
Fears are growing for Miss Rennie and her beloved springer spaniel Milly who were still unaccounted for last night.
Investigators are trying to determine if the 69-year-old retired teacher was trapped inside the house when fire broke out just after 7pm on Tuesday.
A search of the building started yesterday afternoon, only after it was deemed safe enough to enter.
Villager Billy Wiseman raised the alarm on Tuesday night when he spotted flames and smoke coming from Miss Rennie’s property.
Mr Wiseman, who along with Miss Rennie is a member of the Crovie Preservation Society, said yesterday: “I reported it when I saw it, but the fire was so dense there was nothing more anyone could have done.”
He ran to alert Crovie’s only other permanent resident, music teacher Gisela Grothkast, who lives at the opposite end of the village.
She said: “I had just sat down to tea when he came to my door.
“I could tell by the look on his face that something terrible had happened.
“We ran outside and I could see the flames coming from Joan’s house.
“I got a fire extinguisher from the holiday home next door. I emptied it out on to the flames, but it didn’t make much difference.
“I think I knew it wouldn’t help much, but I didn’t want to just stand there and do nothing.”
She added: “Joan was the heart and soul of the village. In fact, she was the village.
“She was always very helpful and looking out for everyone. She kept a set of keys for each house in Crovie, so if you locked yourself out she would make sure you weren’t stuck.”
Miss Rennie, who previously taught art at Turriff Academy, was a prominent member of the village preservation society and in recent years campaigned to safeguard the local pier.
She had lived on her own in the village for about 40 years after moving out of her aunt’s home at Newton Mearns in East Renfrewshire.
Her cousin Isobel Dickson, of Aviemore, said yesterday: “She has three nephews who she is absolutely devoted to and who will miss her desperately.
“She was always such a kind and friendly woman. We’re just in shock.”
Dan Marshall, one of Miss Rennie’s neighbours in Crovie, said: “Joan has been a real pillar of the community.
“She was always looking out for everyone. She regularly walked along the shore to Gardenstown to get messages for other people in the village.”
Speaking at the scene, fire service station manager for Banff and Buchan, Bruce Milne, said the cause of the blaze was still unknown.
“When the crews arrived, the fire was at a very developed stage and the roof had already collapsed,” he said.
“The teams worked under very challenging conditions to bring the fire under control.”
He added: “A joint investigation is now under way to establish the cause of the fire and whether someone was inside at the time.”
It took a team of 20 firefighters just over two hours to bring the cottage blaze under control.