Firefighters worked through the night to tackle a major fire at a battery recycling facility, which has caught fire for the second time in just over a year.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) responded with six fire engines and approximately 40 firefighters after receiving reports of the blaze at the West Byrehill Industrial Estate in North Ayrshire at 12:42pm yesterday.
Dramatic footage shared on social media showed thick plumes of smoke rising hundreds of metres into the sky, as concerned residents looked on in alarm.
As a precaution, several nearby homes were evacuated, although residents were later allowed to return.
The site, operated by Fenix Battery Recycling, also suffered a significant fire in April last year, which burned for two days.
Crews remained at the location throughout the night, with one fire engine still present at 6:30am this morning.
Local residents have been advised to keep windows and doors closed, seal any vents, and avoid touching any batteries or debris found nearby.
There have been no reports of injuries.
Witnesses said the fire was accompanied by explosions and that burning debris had been thrown around the site.
Laura Dobbie, 42, told The Sun: “Police have said people have been struck by flying batteries. I haven’t heard if anyone was hurt, but it’s terrifying — like living in a war zone. Some people have had their windows smashed.”
Dot Hamilton, 63, added: “It’s outrageous. This shouldn’t have happened. We live here. Who knows what long-term damage this could be doing? Someone was hit by a battery — it could have been much worse. I had to leave work because my dog was home alone.”
Another resident, Anne Marie Malcolm, told BBC Scotland News: “I saw sparks flying — it was frightening. It looked like something out of a movie, with batteries and wires everywhere.”
Debris was scattered across the surrounding area, and authorities have reiterated warnings not to handle any material found nearby.
An SFRS spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 12:42pm on Wednesday to reports of a large fire at a recycling centre on Byrehill Place, Kilwinning. Six appliances were dispatched, and firefighters are working to bring the flames under control.”