Residents rallied to try to save a neighbour when her house was engulfed in flames.
Abernethy residents smashed their way into Linda Mair’s home, fearing she was trapped inside.
After a series of frantic phone calls to friends and family, it emerged Ms Mair, thought to be in her sixties, had been in Perth at the time.
Flames and thick smoke were spotting coming from the Bell’s Close property just before noon on Sunday.
Neighbours went inside and found the house was empty. They managed to salvage several pieces of furniture and possessions before fire teams arrived.
Crew manager Stephen Crumlish said: “When we arrived, the roof of the property and the garage was well ablaze.”
Smoke from the property could be seen as far afield as Perth. Three teams from the city spent three hours bringing the blaze under control. They were assisted by an aerial appliance from Newburgh.
Mr Crumlish said there is nothing to suggest the fire was suspicious.
One neighbour said: “Everyone worked together to make sure our neighbour was safe and then to try and get as much of her stuff out before the fire took hold.”
Residents even used their own garden hoses to try to battle the inferno.
“It was real community spirit in action,” he said.