The Highland Council’s housing team arranged for the properties on Meiklefield Road to be used on Monday evening for the first of several planned vital training evenings hosted by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for the Dingwall retained crews, who are on-call to respond to emergencies.

Councillor Angela MacLean and housing officer Faye Dyer were in attendance observing how the training is delivered and to better understand how firefighters use Breathing Apparatus when extinguishing fires.

The exercise was also used to gain insights into the challenges faced by SFRS personnel when tackling a house fire; useful front-line information which can be put to good use when designing new houses for council rent.

Councillor Angela MacLean said: “It was good to see the properties be of use to the Community one last time by allowing Scottish Fire and Rescue Service colleagues to train in a realistic environment to everyone’s benefit.”

Derek Wilson, SFRS local senior officer for Highland, added: “This type of training, using different search and rescue scenarios within derelict buildings, is essential in helping our staff prepare for actual events within our communities.

“The exercise at Dingwall was of great value in maintaining and developing firefighting skills and we are grateful to have been given the opportunity.”

Earlier this month, the council unveiled plans to regenerate parts of the Meiklefield Area in Dingwall. Work will include the demolition of 12 flats to make room for 14 new flats and houses. The new homes are intended to be the first phase of a project aimed at improving housing throughout the wider Meiklefield area.