Landfill site engulfed by fire weeks after reopening

Fire crews are battling a landfill site blaze in Fife, six weeks after it reopened following a previous fire.

The emergency services were alerted to the incident on Lower Melville Woods Waste Facility in Ladybank at around 1.18pm on Wednesday.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent six engines and specialist resources to the scene. Nearby residents have been urged to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke in the area.

There are no reported injuries, and crews remain in attendance.

Police Scotland has confirmed that the surrounding roads still open.

Images of the scene show thick plumes of white smoke billowing from the centre.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 1.18pm on Wednesday, July 22, to reports of a fire within a landfill site on Lower Melville Wood in Ladybank.

“Operations Control have mobilised six fire appliances and specialist resources to the scene.

“Due to smoke in the area, nearby residents are asked to keep their windows and doors closed as a precaution.

“There are no reported casualties, and crews remain in attendance.”

Cireco Service Manager David Goodenough confirmed that the incident is contained and there is no indication that it has spread.

He said: “Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is responding to a fire at the Lower Melville Wood waste facility. At this stage, the fire is contained within a designated waste storage area and there is no indication that it has spread beyond that location.

“We would ask members of the public to avoid the site while emergency services deal with the incident. Due to smoke in the area, nearby residents are asked to keep their windows and doors closed as a precaution.”

This is the second time the site has caught fire in just over two months.

On May 12, residents near the site were warned of a change in air quality due to a blaze, with levels of nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter recorded as having risen at nearby Cupar.

Crews remained in attendance for more than two weeks. The site was then reopened on Monday.