POLICE have been urged people to stay away as firefighters continue to tackle a fire at an industrial estate in North Lanarkshire.
Emergency services, including six fire engines, six ambulances, a trauma team and a resuscitation rapid response unit, were sent to Blairlinn industrial estate in Cumbernauld after a fire broke out at around 2.30pm on Tuesday.
Six people, all men aged between 20 and 66, were taken to hospitals by the Scottish Ambulance Service for treatment.
Firefighters battled flames through the night, with two pumps and a high-reach appliance still at the scene on Wednesday morning.
Footage showed thick black smoke billowing into the sky as the blaze engulfed a single-storey building. Eyewitnesses could smell fumes from miles away.
The incident happened at the Moock Environmental Solutions factory, a toner cartridge recycler which has operated in Cumbernauld for over 25 years.
Police Scotland is urging members of the public to avoid the area and keep their doors and windows closed due to smoke.
A spokesperson said on Wednesday afternoon: “A multi-agency response remains ongoing following a fire at a business premises on an industrial estate on Mid Road in Cumbernauld that was reported around 3pm on Tuesday, April 1.
“The fire is contained within the premises, and the public is asked to avoid the area at this time.
“We continue to advise local residents to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke.
“An investigation will be carried out in due course to establish the cause of the fire.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 2.35pm on Tuesday, April 1, to reports of a building fire at 60 Mid Road, Blairlinn Industrial Estate, Cumbernauld.
“Operations control initially mobilised two appliances to the scene and on arrival firefighters found one single storey building well alight.
“A further four appliances, two high-reach appliances and specialist resources were mobilised to support firefighting crews.
“Six casualties were passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“Two appliances, two high reach appliances and firefighting crew still remain on scene this morning, Wednesday, April 2, as they continue to control the fire.”
