Emergency Services have been dealing with a major blaze in Cowdenbeath town centre which has closed roads and destroyed a local business.

Image credit: Fife Jammer Locations

Premises used by AC Wizard Auto Air Conditioning in Station Road seem to have been gutted by fire, with the alarm being raised around 4.30pm on Wednesday 9th.

A Scottish Fire & Rescue Service mobile command unit and multiple fire engines are at the scene which has destroyed several lock-up garages used by the business.

Local residents had been evacuated from their homes nearby and warned to keep doors and windows closed. Network Rail closed both lines at Cowdenbeath with no trains operating on this branch of the Fife Circle during the incident.

AC Wizard said on their social media they are “totally devastated” by the fire. At this stage it’s believed nobody was in the premises at the time.

Traffic in the area has been diverted with multiple emergency vehicles in the High Street, with the road closed at both the Fountain and Stenhouse Street, and at the north end at Foulford Road.

Network Rail said they were co-operating with the emergency services and took the decision to close both lines through Cowdenbeath for public safety. The line has since reopened at around 7.30pm.

Pictures from the scene show thick black smoke billowing above the town, with reports of small explosions at the height of the blaze.

Police Scotland have confirmed they are supporting the fire service and a number of streets will remain closed until the fire is fully extinguished.

The premises affected today are a set of garages just opposite the former Social Work building and close to a home once owned by renowned Cowdenbeath butcher family Gronbach’s.