Firefighters remain at the scene of a battery recycling plant blaze in North Ayrshire after explosions sent toxic fumes and debris into the air.
Emergency services were called to Fenix Battery Recycling on Byrehill Place in Kilwinning at around 12.42pm on Wednesday.
Six fire service appliances were dispatched to the scene near St Luke’s Primary School and people were urged to avoid the area.
Scottish Fire and Rescue confirmed one fire appliance and crews remain at the scene as of 6.30am on Thursday.
STV NewsSeveral houses in the vicinity were evacuated, but locals have been allowed to return to their homes.
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.
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.
Josh Fryer“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.
“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 were evacuated as a precaution.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
