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Investigation underway into derelict Kinross school fire

It has been confirmed that the police have begun a probe into a suspicious fire at a derelict high school in Kinross, Scotland which happened on Monday evening.

Fire crews were alerted to a blaze at the former site of Kinross High School at about 2045 GMT.

Firefighters managed to put out the fire on the premises at 8 High Street in the town.

As Tayside Fire and Rescue Service tackled the blaze, a number of road closures and diversions were put in place, lasting for about four hours.

The supply of electricity to buildings in the vicinity was interrupted for a short time, but the power is now back to normal again.

There were no injuries reported following this incident, although an investigation into the fire is being conducted between the police and the fire service.

A police spokesman said:

“We are appealing for anyone who was in the area in the hours leading up to the fire, anyone who saw anything suspicious or anyone who has any information relating to the fire to contact them on 0300 111 2222, speak to any police officer or call Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Tayside Police would also like to warn of the dangers of entering derelict premises, which may be unsafe.”

Norfolk farm fire results in chicken deaths

It has been reported that around 15,000 chickens were killed by a blaze which engulfed the shed on a farm where they were kept in West Norfolk.

The fire began on the farm located on Walton Highway near Wisbech and King’s Lynn in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Firefighters who first arrived on the scene had to be careful due to asbestos in the roof of the shed and the possibility chemicals may be stored within the building.

The area was still not safe for fire crews to enter by midday on Tuesday, so a probe into the actual cause of the blaze had still not begun.

The Norfolk Fire Service area manager, Stuart Horth, said:

“We will not enter the building yet because it is structurally unsound and we do not go in where there is asbestos.

“It is a tragic incident. We care a lot about animals in these situations and passionately about people and it is always distressing.

“We are in the early stages of the investigation into the cause of the fire and are dealing with the incident to prevent further damage.”

This fire is similar to another incident which also took place in Norfolk back in May, although in that blaze the chicken shed also containing asbestos was not occupied at the time.

Fire crews battle recycling plant fire in Buckley

It took up to ten fire crews from North Wales Fire and Rescue to tackle a blaze which was started at an industrial unit in Buckley, Flintshire on Sunday night.

Following the fire at the Spencer industrial estate at around 11pm, Buckley residents were told to keep their windows and doors closed due to concerns over the amount of smoke in the air.

There were no hazardous materials involved in the blaze at the recycling plant but environmental health officers were still required in order to keep a check on smoke levels.

Six of the ten fire crews had to remain at the scene overnight to keep the situation under control using equipment which included an aerial ladder.

Roads in the vicinity of Globe Way and Mount Pleasant Road had to be closed. This included Standard Road which was closed in both directions and Drury Lane too, but delays were expected to be kept to an absolute minimum.

It was also reported that residents were told they could still remain in their homes, with no evacuations required.

A spokesperson for North Wales Fire service confirmed that there were no injuries following the fire but that the cause of the blaze in now the subject of an investigation.

Printing works fire led to toxic smoke concerns

It has been revealed that a large fire at a Livingston printing plant led to a number of injuries as well as health fears due to potentially toxic smoke when the incident happened last Thursday morning.

A man and three firefighters from Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service had to have check-ups in hospital following the volatile blaze, which gave off smoke from printing inks and solvents which could be seen for miles around.

Around 70 firefighters battled the fire at Amcor Flexibles in Brucefield Industrial Estate using a total of 12 fire engines. Fire crews had to keep acetylene cylinders from exploding using a constant stream of water.

The chemical fire also caused a number of road closures and police conducted evacuations of people from business premises located in the vicinity of the packaging print works. The line of an Edinburgh to Glasgow rail route also had to be closed due to the fire.

Residents living in Murieston, which is close to the area were given warnings about the smoke and asked to remain indoors keeping all windows and doors closed due to possible toxic fumes.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known although an investigation is now underway.