Frantic OAP risks his life trying to save blazing home
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A DESPERATE pensioner had to be held back by neighbours as he fought to save his home of 40 years and treasured possessions from going up in smoke.
It is believed the homeowner, named locally as retired doctor Roddy Campbell, bravely tried to tackle the blaze at his detached bungalow in Caulfield Road South, near Inshes Wood, before neighbours dialled 999.
Eventually, all he could do was stand back and watch as the fire took hold in the early hours of Friday morning. Yesterday, his home was little more than a burned out shell after firefighters battled for nearly four hours to bring the blaze under control.
At its peak the fire was being tackled by six different engines, with firefighters from both Inverness and Nairn called out to the incident.
According to Duncan Macpherson, chairman of Cradlehall and Westhill Community Council, Dr Campbell had lived in the house for around 40 years and is well known in the local area.
Mr Macpherson said Dr Campbell was too upset to speak about the fire to the Inverness Courier yesterday.
Describing him as a "sprightly night owl", Mr Mapcherson said Dr Campbell had gone for a walk in the early hours and returned to find flames coming out of his chimney.
"He thought it was a simple chimney fire and that he could deal with it on his own without having to alert the fire service," he said. "However, it appears the fire had got into the attic area and from there it was able to spread."
He added: "Dr Campbell is a lovely man and very popular with his neighbours and I know that everybody is shocked by what has happened.
"We’re just glad that he is relatively unharmed, given what could have happened."
Dr Campbell was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation. He has since been released.
The fire service were alerted to the fire at 1.45am on Friday and managed to bring the blaze under control at around 5.30am. Crews remained on the scene until 2.30pm that afternoon, keeping an eye out for hot spots which might have reignited.
