Blaze at chemical storage plant

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue were called out at 2.22am to tackle the blaze, which at its height was so intense that it started to affect pallets of stored materials and vehicles outside the buildings, on Twechar’s Gavell Road.

Due to the chemicals held in the treatment centre, a decision was taken to evacuate 12 people from nearby homes and farms as a precaution and the B8023 was closed to traffic.

Crews from Kilsyth, Cumbernauld, Coatbridge, Bishopbriggs and Bellshill worked hard to bring the fire under control and ensure it did not spread to other buildings.

There will now be a joint investigation by the police and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue to establish the cause of the blaze.

For more on this story, see Wednesday’s News and Chronicle.