Edinburgh and West Lothian residents smell 'burning plastic' as massive fire rages 30 miles away

Katie Williams
·2-min read
Fire crews are currently on the scene
-Credit: (Image: Matt McCulloch)


Locals in Edinburgh and West Lothian have complained of a 'burning plastic' smell as a fire rages 30 miles away.

Fire crews raced to a blaze in Caldercruix at the Greengairs Waste Facility on Meikle Drumgrae Road on Saturday afternoon (June 29).

Concerned residents in Livingston, East Calder and as far as Edinburgh have complained of a 'strange chemical smell', believed to be coming from the Lanarkshire as as firefighters continue to tackle the blaze.

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An Edinburgh resident said: "Very pungent burning smell right across Edinburgh right now. No-one seems to know what it is or where it's coming from."

As Glasgow Live reported, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service raced to the scene at 12.20pm on Saturday. There are currently five appliances on site, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency to assess the environmental impact.

One local told Glasgow Live: "It's massive! There are ground crews that work at the waste site, tipping soil over the flames to put it out."

Images taken via drone show the colossal scale of the inferno at the facility, with crews seen shifting soil towards the raging flames in an attempt to put it out.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We got a call today at 12.20pm to a fire on Meikle Drumgrae Road.

"We initially went to investigate and at the moment there are five appliances in attendance as well as a senior officer.

"EPA are in attendance also to evaluate the environmental impact."

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