This was the scene of the fire at 2.30 pm on Friday

Annandale Industrial Estate was the site of a potentially huge fire at the metal recycling plant. Thick smoke appeared at 2.20 pm on Friday at the plant which is situatued on the Irvine Road in Kilmarnock next to Annanhill Golf Course. Three fire engines from Kilmarnock, Dreghorn and Stewarton were on the scene when URsTV got on site, although they were having some problems gaining access to a water supply. There appeared to be no access to the water mains therefore the fire crew had to stretch their water hoses out to the main road.

Eventually, the water came through and work began in earnest to put out the fire although at 2.30 pm there was more thick smoke than fire.

Aerial view of Annandale Industrial Estate, Kilmarnock, thanks to Google Maps

The fire soon took hold and firefighters were forced to wear breathing apparatus and also had to use a high reach appliance to gain access to the roofs where thick plumes of smoke could be seen for miles.

There was the possibility of asbestos in the buildings and dangerous particles could have been within the smoke plume so two nearby residential properties and Annandale Golf Course were evacuated simply as a precaution.

Appliances will remain at the scene with Strathclyde Fire Investigation Team commencing their preliminary investigations into the cause.