A woman who died in a flat fire in Kirkcaldy has been identified by police.
The blaze broke out in Theresa McTavish’s home in Kinninmonth Street in the early hours of the morning.
Her upstairs neighbour tried in vain to rouse her to get her out of the building before fire crews arrived.
Firefighters rescued the 67-year-old, and they and paramedics delivered emergency first aid but she died at the scene.
An investigation has been launched by Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service into the fire, which was reported just before 2am.
One neighbour, who was woken up by the commotion, said: “I heard the guy above trying to get her out, shouting ‘get up, get up’.
“Then the fire engines came.”
“She was a lovely woman. It’s quite a quiet, friendly street. It is a shock.”
The neighbour who tried to rouse the woman declined to speak to the press, saying he had had a difficult night and wished to be left alone.
Another resident, Helen Watson, said: “She was a nice neighbour.
“She loved animals. She used to feed my dog and my cat would go running to her.
“She would put a saucer out for the all cats round here and they would go to see her.”
Two fire engines from Kirkcaldy and a third from Burntisland rushed to the scene after the service’s control room at Thornton received a call at 1.50am.
Four firefighters using breathing apparatus entered the heavily smoke-logged ground floor flat and rescued her but she died before she could be taken to hospital.
A fire investigation unit was also mobilised and firefighters remained at the scene for over two hours.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service group manager Alex Smart said: “The loss of life through fire in the home is utterly devastating and the thoughts of everyone are with those involved in this tragedy.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police in Fife attended along with other emergency services to an address in Kinninmonth Street, Kirkcaldy at around 1.55am on Thursday April 9 following reports of a fire.
“The body of a woman was found within the property and enquiries are now underway to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident.”