Firefighters have worked through the night at a blaze at a battery recycling centre which broke out for the second time in a year.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) sent six fire engines and about 40 firefighters to the scene in West Byrehill Industrial Estate in North Ayrshire when the alarm was raised at 12.42pm yesterday.
On footage shared on social media you can see huge plumes of smoke rising hundreds of metres into the air, as worried homeowners look on in horror.
Several nearby houses were evacuated 'as a precaution', but people were later allowed to return home.
Fenix Battery Recycling caught fire last April as well and the fire then raged for two days.
Firefighters remained at the site throughout the night and a fire engine was still there at 6.30am this morning.
People living nearby are being advised to be keep windows and doors shut and vents closed, and not to pick up any batteries or debris in the surrounding area.
There are no reports of any injuries.
Firefighters have worked through the night at a blaze at a battery recycling centre which broke out for the second time in a year
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) sent six fire engines and about 40 firefighters to the scene in West Byrehill Industrial Estate in North Ayrshire when the alarm was raised at 12.42pm yesterday
Smoke was seen billowing from Fenix Battery Recycling in Kilwinning, Ayrshire
Residents reported hearing an explosion as the fire took hold at the plant and burning debris was scattered around the building.
Laura Dobbie, 42, told the Sun: 'Police have told us people have been hit with flying batteries.
'I've not heard if they've been hurt but it's terrifying. It's like living in a war zone.
'People have had their windows smashed with flying batteries.'
Dot Hamilton, 63 added: 'I think it's disgusting. It should never have happened. We have to live here.
'God knows what damage it's doing long term. Someone has been hit by a battery. It could have been so much worse.
'I've had to come home from work because my dog was home alone.'
Another local Anne Marie Malcolm told BBC Scotland News: 'I just saw sparks and things flying up. It was so scary. It is like a movie scene with all the batteries, with cables coming out.'
Ms Malcolm said the surrounding area was strewn with debris.
Officers also said people should not pick up any batteries or debris.
A spokesperson for SFRS said: 'We were alerted at 12.42pm on Wednesday 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.
Another local Anne Marie Malcolm told BBC Scotland News: 'I just saw sparks and things flying up. It was so scary. It is like a movie scene with all the batteries, with cables coming out'
Aerial shots show firefighters still tackling the blaze that has all but destroyed the massive battery recycling plant in Kilwinning
Aerial shots show the extent of the damage caused by the blaze
'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 spokesman for Police Scotland said: 'Emergency services are in attendance at a fire in West Byrehill Industrial Estate, Kilwinning, North Ayrshire.
'Motorists and pedestrians are asked to avoid the area.
'Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is advising people in nearby houses to keep windows and doors closed.'
It comes almost exactly a year after another fire at the recycling centre, which raged on for two days.
Hundreds of residents were evacuated from their homes on April 8 2024, and locals in neighbouring villages heard loud bangs as thousands of batteries exploded.
