By Gordon Berry

A FIFE councillor has raised concern over the possible catastrophe that could have occurred as firefighters tackled a blaze in the north-east Fife community of Kettlebridge on Thursday night.

Councillor David MacDairmid, one of the members of the Howe of Fife ward, said the firefighters had to contend with a “potential bomb” as they found heated acetylene cylinders among sheds caught up in the fire.

The councillor raised the issue as several residents of the village had to wait until early yesterday evening to be allowed back to their homes following after the fire in Haughfield Terrace as firefighters made sure that the cylinders were safe.

Yesterday a senior officer in Fife Fire and Rescue Service stressed that anyone keeping gases such acetylene, butane or propane should be aware that it is a potential explosive and should follow appropriate codes.

The incident began on Thursday evening when two units of Fife Fire and Rescue Service were called out to the village and found that a fire, first thought to be in a hedge, had also spread to some nearby sheds.

The cylinders were discovered, and although no-one had been hurt, it was decided that for safety reasons a police cordon should be placed around the immediate scene and some householders should be evacuated.

They were taken to Kettle village hall, where officials from Fife council’s social work and housing services were joined by WRVS workers who provided drinks and snacks. The exercise was co-ordinated by the council’s emergency planning team.

Some residents found shelter with friends and relatives and a few others had to be put up in other accommodation for the night.

Yesterday a unit from Fife Fire and Rescue Service was at the scene for most of the day as the cooling down operation continued.

Police, who described the incident as “potentially very serious,” continued to restrict access to the area.

Mr MacDairmid said he had been highly impressed by an effort that saw everything just “click into place.”

“This was very co-ordinated and effective and I would like to thank everyone concerned in making sure that people were kept safe and looked after.

“I was told by a senior police officer at the scene that such cylinders are potential bombs and if they had exploded a whole fire crew could have been taken out.

“It is worrying that no-one was aware of the existence of these cylinders until it was almost too late and there surely has to be some way licensing such equipment so that there is a record of where it is stored. I understand that someone had been repairing a vehicle in the shed involved.”

The cause of the blaze is being investigated and yesterday the senior Fife Fire and Rescue Service officer who had been at the scene, group manager Iain Kelly, said the incident had occurred at a private home.

He said businesses would normally fall within fire safety legislation and through safety visits the service would require them to manage their risk in a safe manner and to show that there is adequate storage and safety practice.

Mr Kelly said there would be no requirement for a visit to a private home unless a complaint was received.