Woman's house 'pelted with batteries' during massive blaze at recycling plant

17 April 2024 , 10:16

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Becca Black was horrified by the blaze at the recycling plant (Image: Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post)

A woman has told of her shock after her house was pelted with batteries after an explosion caused by a huge blaze at a recycling plant.

Becca Black, 31, was shocked when the huge inferno gripped the plant in Kilwinning, about 20 miles southwest of Glasgow, last Monday night. Nearby residents were forced to flee during the late night fire which took several days to bring under control. Black, who lives less than 50 yards from the plant watched on in horror as the blaze engulfed the site and as emergency services raced to the location. She said batteries from the plant pelted her property, with dozens falling in her front and back garden.

"The last week has been a nightmare," she told Ayrshire Live. "The night itself was terrifying for everyone in the street - I got a chap on the door from the firemen telling me to grab what I could and just to go. It was a case of just running with what I had as the fire took hold." She was eventually allowed to return to her property as firefighters battled to dampen the smoke last week, but she ended up in hospital with side effects. Becca has since returned but admitted to feeling like a "prisoner in her own home" in recent days.

Becca Black ended up needing to go to the hospital following the blast (Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post)

"It was only this morning that they finally came to clear the batteries away," she added. "I'd been told not to go into my garden or touch them because they weren't sure how dangerous they were. I lost count of how many there were out there. There's a young mum living near me and she's not returned with her wee baby...people are understandably really worried.

"I've felt a bit trapped looking out the window at all these batteries and melted plastic lying in my garden. Obviously it could have been worse and the main thing is nobody was seriously hurt in the fire, but it's been a really scary time for all of us living round here. We've been assured it's safe to return and the area is clear. Hopefully we can get back to normal soon."

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The recycling centre was engulfed in flames

Residents claimed the area looked like a "war zone" as the blaze ripped through the plant with explosions being heard up to three miles away. At its peak, six fire appliances and a height vehicle were sent to Byrehill Place to battle the fames with more than firefighters tackling the blaze.

Fenix is the only multi-chemistry based battery recycler in the UK. After opening its first plant in the West Midlands in 2020, the second site in Kilwinning began operations in 2021. The company has said that the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Stuart Wilson