Two people have been taken to hospital after a fire at a flat in Kirkcaldy.
Emergency services were called to the property on Gourlay Street at around 2am on Monday.
Firefighters spent more than two hours tackling the blaze.
The occupants of the flat managed to get out before firefighters arrived but two people were taken to hospital.
The nature of their injuries has not been confirmed.
The flat has been left severely damaged with the outside of the building blackened by the smoke.
A resident of the building, who asked not to be named, told The Courier he was at work when he received a call in the early hours to say a neighbouring flat was on fire.
He said: ”Several fire engines were blocking the street when I came home and lots of smoke was still coming from the ground-floor windows.
“I wasn’t allowed back into my property for safety reasons.
“The fire has also damaged an upstairs flat.”
Kirkcaldy flat fire ‘awful to witness’
Another Gourley Street resident said she was woken by sirens as crews arrived at the scene.
She said: ”I looked out and could see the glow of fire in the flat and clouds of smoke pouring out of the windows.
“It was awful to witness as someone’s home has been destroyed in just a few minutes.
“Firefighters were rushing about and I saw several with masks and breathing equipment going up the communal stairway.
“It’s terrible to lose your home at any time but so close the Christmas is so sad.”
Police have remained at the scene throughout Monday morning.
The cause of the blaze has not been confirmed.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2am on Monday we received a report of a fire at Gourlay Street, Kirkcaldy.
“Two people were taken to hospital for treatment.
“Inquiries are ongoing.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received a call at 1.56am about a fire in a flat on Gourlay Street in Kirkcaldy.
“We sent three fire appliances – two from Kirkcaldy and one from Methil.
“Firefighters used breathing apparatus and hose reel jets to fight the fire.
“Nobody had to be rescued from the building.
“Firefighters left the scene at 4.18am.”
Conversation