Plumes of smoke as fire engulfs industrial estate

INCIDENT: Reports of explosions and workers at nearby premises suffering breathing difficulties

A blaze at an industrial estate in Cupar sent plumes of black smoke belching into the sky yesterday.

Witnesses reported hearing explosions as the fire engulfed Aberhill Metals, a scrap metal yard at Cupar Trading Estate, off the A91 to the east of the town.

There were no reports of any injuries. However, workers in nearby premises reported breathing difficulties as the smoke drifted across the area.

Nine fire appliances attended the incident, including a command support unit and an incident response unit.

Ambulance crews were also on the scene.

Nearby premises were evacuated, including the Mitsubishi and Subaru car showrooms, and Eden Veterinary Practice, as police set up a cordon around the area.

Bryan Nicol from BN Designs Bodyshop said he told his staff to evacuate the workshop as a precaution because of the distance the smoke was travelling.

“We heard three loud explosions, and due to the dense smoke over the building causing some irritation to breathing, we decided to close the site at 11.45am,” he said.

He said none of his staff required medical attention.

The fire appeared to be in a warehouse next to the 1960s silo, which used to be part of Cupar’s former sugar beet factory.

Opened in 1926, the beet factory closed in the early 1970s, less than a decade after the prominent silo was built.

Dairsie resident Ian Thomson said he could see the smoke from his home, two miles away.

“When I drove there, I was able to hear loud bangs from the fire. This may have been masonry falling or possibly gas cylinder explosions,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted at 10.23am on Tuesday to reports of a fire within a building at Cupar Trading Estate, Fife.

“Operations control has mobilised nine fire appliances, two height vehicles and a number of specialist resources to the scene where firefighters are working to extinguish the flames.

“No injuries have been reported and all surrounding buildings have been evacuated. Crews will remain in attendance for some time.”

Pictures: Kim Cessford. The scene of the blaze at Cupar Trading Estate off the A91 to the east of the town.

Fire and ambulance crews attended and police set up a cordon around the area. There were no reports of any injuries.