An investigation is under way into the cause of a fire that tore through a Perthshire home at the weekend.
Only the swift action of firefighters saved Drumbauchly Cottage, near Methven, from total devastation after flames swept through its roof space.
The blaze caused extensive damage and a partial roof collapse, but crews prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the building.
Two appliances were scrambled from Perth Community Fire Station shortly after 9pm on Sunday following reports of a house fire in the Perthshire village.
On arrival, crews were faced with a “fully developed fire” that had already broken through the roof of the property. Thankfully all occupants of the house had already been safely evacuated.
Due to the remote location of the cottage, a third fire appliance was mobilised to assist with limited water supplies. An aerial appliance was also requested to help extinguish the rapid spread of fire within the roof space.
Group manager Graham Smart, from Perth Community Fire Station, was in attendance and said: “Fire crews were faced on arrival with a rapidly developing and intense fire.
“Thankfully the family had safely evacuated from the cottage prior to our arrival and, with everyone accounted for, we concentrated our efforts on a quick attack of the roof fire.
“Thanks to the swift actions of our firefighters, the fire was quickly brought under control, enabling us to save the adjoining roof of the extension to the cottage.
“After the fire was extinguished, fire crews remained on scene throughout the night to cut away unsafe timbers, checking for hot spots with thermal image cameras, and make the scene safe.”
An investigation began on Monday in association with Tayside Police to establish the cause of the fire.
Tayside Fire and Rescue said the cottage had a lit stove at the outbreak of the fire and the service only last week raised concerns over a recent rise in the number of fires being attributed to wood-burning heaters.
During 2011/12, a total of 10 incidents were found to have been caused by the wood-burning stoves, with homeowners using them as an efficient way of heating their property.
Mr Smart did, however, add that at this early stage it appeared that the fire had originated within the roof space of the cottage.
A Perthshire fire crew also remained in attendance at Haughend Farm, near Meigle, on Monday where flames had engulfed an agricultural building earlier on Sunday.
Some 200 tonnes of baled straw had caught alight and it took many hours before the blaze was fully extinguished and in no danger of reigniting.
Water was pumped from the nearby River Isla as firefighters doused the fire.