Fire crews battle Scots waste facility blaze as smoke billows into sky

Ryan Carroll & Keiran Fleming

29 June 2024 at 4:46 pm·1-min read

Smoke was seen as far as Blantyre — -Credit: (Image: Glasgow Live)

Fire crews are battling a blaze at a waste facility in Lanarkshire this evening.

Emergency services raced to Greengairs Waste Facility on Meikle Drumgrae Road after the alarm was raised at around 12.20pm on Saturday.

Residents in Blantyre watched as thick black smoke flowed into the sky and those as far as Livingston have complained on social media of a strong chemical burning smell in the air, believed to be related to the ongoing fire.

A witness at the scene 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 scale of the inferno at the facility, with crews seen shifting soil towards the raging flames in an attempt to put it out.

Fire crews are currently on the scene -Credit:Matt McCulloch / Glasgow Live

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."

Police Scotland have been contacted for comment.

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