A pensioner on the Isle of Lewis has been left homeless after the croft house she had called home since 1973 was destroyed in a fire.
Twenty firefighters battled the blaze on Wednesday night as they faced “challenging” conditions.
The woman and her pet cat fled the property at Cromore in South Lochs just as flames took hold.
‘She has lost everything’
Dougie Campbell, group commander with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in the Western Isles said: “It is devastating for the homeowner.
“It is not just the physical loss of her home – it is also the emotional loss. She has lost everything.
“Our crews faced very challenging and difficult circumstances to bring this fire under control. There were logistical problems including over water supply.
“She had lived in the home since it was built in 1973. So it has been very difficult to see the loss of her home. It is terrible for her.”
The alarm was raised just after at 6pm on Wednesday.
The resident, who lived alone and is believed to be in her 70s – had heard a sound and saw smoke coming from a cupboard, said Mr Campbell.
“She alerted neighbours next door, who tried to put the blaze out with a fire extinguisher, but were unable to do so,” he added.
Under investigation
Group commander Gavin Hammond of SFRS took charge of four fire appliances from Stornoway, Tarbert and South Lochs.
But the blaze was already well-developed by the time they arrived.
The woman, who was sheltered by family members, was later taken to be checked over at Western Isles Hospital by a neighbour as a precaution.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, said Mr Campbell.
A neighbouring property has been temporarily evacuated as a precaution due to the potential for falling masonry.
The family have expressed their thanks to the fire service for doing everything they could to save the property.
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