Police investigation launched into second fire at battery recycling plant in North Ayrshire

An investigation has been launched into the cause of a second fire at a battery recycling facility in North Ayrshire.

Emergency services were called to Fenix Battery Recycling on Byrehill Place in Kilwinning around 1.10pm on Wednesday following an explosion.

Six fire engines battled the flames as houses in the vicinity were evacuated.

As of Thursday afternoon, there were no reports of any injuries, and emergency services remained at the scene.

Aftermath of the fire at Fenix Battery recycling facility. STV News

Those affected have been allowed to return home, but advice to keep windows, doors, and vents closed continues to be in place.

Locals have also been urged not to pick up any batteries or debris in the surrounding area.

Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue have begun a joint investigation to establish the cause of the fire.

Second investigation one year on

The incident unfolded exactly a year after the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) battled a four-day blaze at the site, leading to a major investigation.

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 after the blaze, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) served two enforcement notices.

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.

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

“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.”