‘Lucky escape’ for Fyvie dog breeders

Fire crews battled a blaze at a rural home in Aberdeenshire yesterday amid fears someone was trapped inside the house.

The property, which is understood to double as a base for dog breeding, is occupied by an elderly couple and about dozen shih-tzus as well as hens.

Last night, the couple declined to comment. other than to say the incident was “nothing serious”.

The blaze broke out at the property, a mile east of Fyvie and south of the B9005 Methlick road, at around 10am.

Three fire crews from Oldmeldrum, Turriff and Maud were called to the scene.

The blaze, which damaged a wooden shed, was under control by 11.30am.

No one was injured.

Brian Martin, the chairman of Fyvie Community Council, said: “I saw the fire brigade on its way there, it’s a lucky escape.

“I just hope the impact on them isn’t serious.”

A fire and rescue service spokesman said the blaze was not being treated as suspicious.

Police did not attend.