Ladybank Landfill Fire Continues Fifth Day, Staff Allegedly Climbed Locked Gate to Escape

Fire crews are still tackling a blaze at the Ladybank landfill facility in Fife, which has now entered its fifth day. Three fire crews and specialist appliances remain on scene, attempting to extinguish the deep-seated flames that first erupted on Tuesday afternoon. Residents in the vicinity are advised to keep windows closed if they detect smoke.

At its peak, the incident required twelve appliances and specialist resources. No casualties have been reported, though the Unite union has made serious allegations that staff members were forced to climb a locked gate to escape the site. Cireco Scotland, the facility operator, has labelled these claims as 'speculation' but has committed to a full investigation into the matter.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has indicated that full extinguishment could take until early next week, owing to the difficulty in accessing burning material buried deep within the waste piles. A spokesperson confirmed, 'There is still firefighting ongoing.'

Fife Council has confirmed that the waste transfer and processing facility remains closed. While acknowledging the disruption and concern for local residents, the council stated that bin collections are proceeding as scheduled. The household waste recycling centre at the site will remain shut until the fire is out and safe access can be re-established.

Unite alleges that employees were directed towards a specific exit route only to discover the gate secured with combination locks, prompting them to scale the fence rather than re-enter areas heavy with smoke. Robin Baird, Chief Executive of Cireco Scotland, expressed confidence that all staff were guided to safe escape routes and stated that evacuation procedures would form part of the forthcoming investigation.