'Explosions' as Kilwinning battery recycling plant next to school engulfed by fire again

Key Points

Explosions heard as large fire erupts at battery recycling plant in Kilwinning near primary school
Fenix Battery Recycling has been engulfed by flames a second time – one year after it was forced to close
Local resident said the explosion caused ‘panic and terror’ and sounded like a ‘terrorist attack’
A huge plume of smoke and flying debris could be seen as residents urged ‘keep doors and windows closed’
Several houses in the vicinity have been evacuated

Fire crews are tackling a large blaze after a battery recycling plant in North Ayrshire was engulfed by flames.

Emergency services were called to Fenix Battery Recycling on Byrehill Place in Kilwinning at around 12.42pm on Wednesday.

Six fire service appliances are on the scene near St Luke’s Primary School and people have been urged to avoid the area.

Several houses in the vicinity had been evacuated, but locals have been allowed to return to their homes.

They have been advised to keep windows and doors shut and vents closed, and not to pick up any batteries or debris in the surrounding area.

Pennyburn Road has been re-opened.

Fire crews are tackling a large blaze and explosions have been heard at a battery recycling plant in North Ayrshire. Lauren McMillian

It comes exactly a year after the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) battled a blaze at the site which raged for four days.

Plumes of smoke could be seen by members of the public in the area and “explosions” heard.

Fire crews are advising people in nearby houses to keep windows and doors closed.

Local resident Marj Agnew said the initial explosion sounded like “a terrorist attack”.

“It’s sheer panic and terror”, she said.

“I was out the back door hanging a washing out, and I just heard a giant bang.

“It sounded like it was a terrorist attack. That’s how loud it was, it was terrible.

“There are toxic fumes in the air. It’s obviously toxic as we can see people in hazard suits.

“There’s yellow tape outside my driveway and I’ve been told I can’t take the car out. The roads around us are all shut down. We shouldn’t be subject to this.

Emergency services were called to Fenix Battery Recycling on Byrehill Place in Kilwinning at around 12.42pm on Wednesday. Craig Gilchrist

“We’re not happy it wasn’t cleared and made safe a year ago. The people from the factory have a duty of care to make sure it’s safe, and they are not doing that.”

There are no reports of anyone being injured however, several houses in the vicinity have been evacuated as a precaution.

North Ayrshire Council has opened Cranberry Moss Community Centre, Cambusdoon Place, Kilwinning as a rest centre to accommodate residents and others who are unable to access their properties.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted at 12.42pm on Wednesday, April 9, to reports of a large fire within a recycling centre on Byrehill Place, Kilwinning.

“Operations Control has mobilised six fire appliances to the scene and firefighters are working to extinguish the flames.

“There are currently no reported casualties.

“As a precaution, members of the public are being asked to avoid the area and close windows and doors if affected by smoke.”

A Police Scotland statement read: “Emergency services remain in attendance at a fire at a battery recycling facility in West Byrehill Industrial Estate in Kilwinning which was reported shortly before 1.10pm today, Wednesday, 9 April, 2025.

“Local residents are able to return to their homes, which were earlier evacuated, and Pennyburn Road has been re-opened. A cordon remains in place and there are still some road closures in the area.

“There are no reports of anyone having been injured.

“Advice to those living nearby continues to be keep windows and doors shut and vents closed. Locals are also advised not to pick up any batteries or debris in the surrounding area.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Emergency services are in attendance at a fire at Byrehill Place in Kilwinning and, as a precaution, officers are advising local residents to remain indoors and keep their windows and doors closed as they deal with the incident.

“We would ask residents to continue to follow the advice they receive from the lead agencies and we remain ready to continue to offer any support we can.”

Fire-hit site had license suspended one year ago

A major investigation was launched into the cause of the fire last year.

Six fire engines and a height appliance were sent to the scene and remained there for four days in April last year.

CEO of Fenix Battery Recycling, Damian Lambkin, apologised to the local community after hundreds were forced to evacuate their homes after the fire broke out.

Two months on from the blaze, two enforcement notices have been served by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

They required Fenix Battery Recycling Ltd to remove waste batteries that have been on the site at West Byrehill Industrial Estate for longer than six months.

As the agency suspended the firm’s approval as an Approved Battery Treatment Operator (ABTO), no waste can be accepted, stored or treated by the company.

SEPA says it has issued the enforcement actions following both non-compliance with licence conditions and site infrastructure being destroyed by the fire.

They said continuing to carry on the licensed activities at the site in its current condition would be considered a risk which could cause serious pollution of the environment and serious harm to human health.

Lin Bunten, SEPA chief operating officer, regulation, business, and environment, said: “The package of enforcement action we have set out is in response to a significant incident and designed to protect the environment and communities in the area surrounding the Fenix Battery Recycling Ltd site in Kilwinning.

“The decision to suspend a licence is never taken lightly, but it is one of the enforcement tools we have available and one we will use when we believe it is required to prevent risk of harm to the environment.

“The operator is required to remove the waste which breaches licence conditions offsite to an appropriately licensed facility by the dates we have set out in the Enforcement Notices.

“The suspension of the Waste Management Licence (WML) will remain in place until we are satisfied that the conditions as specified in the suspension notice have been adhered to – which include requirements concerning site infrastructure, a fire prevention and mitigation plan and fire detection system.

“We partially suspended Fenix Battery Recycling Ltd’s licence last year when it failed to comply with a previous enforcement notice we served.

“This prevented them receiving any more special waste on site after 5pm on November 3, 2023. We will not hesitate to take further action, in line with our enforcement policy, as required.”