Man feared dead after fire at Dores on Loch Ness-side
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A Highland community is in mourning following the suspected death of an 82-year-old man in a house fire.
Firefighters were called to a blaze at a property on the B862 road south of Dores shortly after 10pm on Monday.
The householder was still unaccounted for as of yesterday morning, but was named locally as Terence Glendinning, owner of the former Calterdon BMW franchise in Inverness.
Four crews attended the scene of the blaze, with firefighters remaining on the scene until 8pm on Tuesday evening.
The road approaching and around the house remained sealed off yesterday morning, with police officers in attendance.
Local councillor David Fraser said: “This has been a devastating fire in the heart of a small community.
“I want to offer my sincere sympathy to the family and the whole community.
“Thanks also go to the emergency services, the fire service and the police who attended at the scene.”
Fellow ward member and leader of Highland Council Margaret Davidson said: “I learned of the fire yesterday (Tuesday).
“I am so sad for his son [Ross] and his family in particular. It will be very hard for them.
“All of Dores is shocked and we are also thinking of the firefighters who do so much to save lives.
“We all have to come to terms with this now. So sad.”
Mr Glendinning is understood to have family connections with the popular Dores Inn which has announced it is to be closed for several days.
In a Facebook post owners said: “It’s with a heavy heart that we will be closed for the next week due to a family bereavement.”
Giving more details of the effort to contain the fire, a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “Four appliances were sent to the scene as well as one water carrier.
“Firefighters used four sets of breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets, four 45mm jets, two main jets and a ground monitor to tackle the blaze.”
Police Scotland said that “extensive structural damage and uncertainty” around the condition of the building meant it had not been possible to access the property as of Wednesday morning.
A spokesman added: “The single occupant of the property is currently unaccounted for. However, enquiries carried out so far indicate the occupant was within at the time of the fire. Their next of kin is being updated by officers.
“A joint investigation will be carried out with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to establish the full circumstances.”
