Scottish police share findings after plant explodes (VIDEO)

Scottish authorities have determined that a major fire at a battery recycling plant in the west of the country was not the result of arson, according to reports. The blaze in the town of Kilwinning last Wednesday forced nearby residents to evacuate their homes.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) deployed almost a dozen fire engines to tackle the blaze at the Fenix Battery Recycling, located on the Byrehill Industrial Estate in North Ayrshire. The fire broke out almost exactly one year after the same site was severely damaged by a blaze that raged for two days.

Witnesses said the fire last Wednesday was accompanied by a series of loud explosions, and reported large plumes of smoke rising from the scene. The SFRS advised that windows and doors be kept closed and for residents not to pick up any debris in the surrounding area.

The police and emergency services determined on Friday that the blaze was not started deliberately, according to local media.

“The amount of toxins released are equivalent to 1,000 trucks with poorly tuned diesels driving nonstop for over 10 years, according to reports,” one user commented on X. 

In September last year, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) revoked Fenix’s waste management license as part of an “enhanced package of enforcement action.”

The company was ordered to transfer any waste in breach of the license to an approved facility.

As part of the enforcement measures, Fenix was given a deadline of June to comply with several requirements, including removing fire debris, repairing damaged infrastructure, and implementing a comprehensive fire prevention and mitigation plan.

The agency stated that its officers had visited the site to collect samples from nearby watercourses and would continue to monitor the situation.