AN elderly woman needed medical treatment for smoke inhalation after a "fierce" fire in a home near Helensburgh.

Firefighters battled a blaze at a home in Rhu during the early hours of today and provided treatment to the woman.

Crews from Helensburgh Community Fire Station used eight dry powder extinguishers to contain the flames, which had taken hold within a utility cupboard at a two-storey property in Lineside Walk shortly before midnight.

Station manager Stephen Harper, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) incident commander, said: "This fire had the potential to be far worse and the professionalism of our crews was essential to successfully containing it.

"Firefighters in breathing apparatus were constantly inside the property and repeatedly knocked-down the flames using dry powder extinguishers, however the presence of live electricity meant it could not be fully extinguished until engineers cut off the power supply.

"The skill and hard work of crews meant the fire was contained to the area around the utility cupboard and did not spread throughout the house."

The woman sustained slight smoke inhalation in the incident and was given oxygen therapy by firefighters before receiving a precautionary check-up from paramedics.

Station manager Harper added: "This was a fierce-going fire and while the flames were successfully contained, the intensity of heat did cause damage to the hallway and thick smoke affected about half of the property."