A house in an upmarket street in the south of Lerwick was engulfed in flames yesterday morning.
The fire service said that six appliances were sent to battle what was described as a “significant blaze”.
Emergency services received a call at 10.01am concerning a fire in Sandy-loch Drive and were at the scene of the blaze by 10.12am.
There were four police cars in attendance. Officers went on to close the road to traffic while the firefighters battled the flames.
The blaze was centred on the first floor and roof area of the two-storey home that was perched on the side of a hill, making access to some areas difficult.
That meant firefighters had to deploy a 10.5-metre ladder and four hose reels to access the roof space from where flames could be seen going up the side of the building.
In addition two thermal imaging cameras were deployed, as were six sets of breathing apparatus, and a jet spray was used to douse the blaze.
By 12.30pm the flames had been brought under control.
Four of the fire engines which had been sent from rural stations outside the town returned to their bases but two Lerwick vehicles remained at the scene for some time after.
The fire service revealed last night that a senior officer had gone to the scene to conduct a fire investigation but that there was no word as yet on the cause.
There were no reports of injuries or fatalities but it is understood that the occupants had only recently moved into the property and there was no one home at the time.
One neighbour said the fire looked “just hellish” and even after the flames were extinguished smoke was “billowing out” for some time.
They said the family who lived in the house had only recently moved into the neighbourhood, adding: “I can’t think what they’re going through.”