FIREFIGHTERS needed to use a snow plough to reach a blazing home in the Scottish Borders today (Mon).
Heavy snowfall made it impossible for fire brigade vehicles to reach the street near Yetholm.
Even with the help of a snow plough and 4×4 vehicles, the rescue effort was delayed by half an hour.
The residents of the home in Deanfield Road had already managed to escape when fire crews arrived to tackle the blaze, which broke out in the ground floor shortly before 4am.
Crews fought the flames for hours, staying on the scene until 8.30am.
Firefighters using breathing masks and a thermal imaging camera checked the house for casualties.
A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said: “We were called to a fire in the ground floor of a house at 3.50am, but the treacherous weather conditions meant we required the assistance of a snow plough.
“We also used 4×4 vehicles to allow fire fighters to get to the scene.
“There were no casualties as the two occupiers of the house had managed to get to safety at their neighbour’s house.”
