Flames have burst through the roof of a derelict building in Lochgelly this morning.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called to Grainger Street just after 1am.
Upon arrival, it was confirmed as a derelict building on fire.
Pictures of the aftermath show flames have destroyed the roof and windows have been smashed.
Three appliances attended the Fife scene and the fire was extinguished just before 4am.
No injuries were reported.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to reports of a fire on Grainger Street in Lochgelly at 1.04am on Sunday.
“When appliances arrived on the scene, it was confirmed as a derelict building on fire.
“Three appliances were in attendance.
“The fire has been extinguished and we left the scene at 3.49am.”
Grainger Street resident, Jean Wilkinson, 83, who lives just yards from the burnt out property, described the scene as “an inferno”.
She told The Courier: “I was woken up by a large bang and initially thought it was kids messing about.
“It was only as a looked outside that i saw the street completely full of flashing blue lights.
Grainger Street residents woken by loud bang as firefighters fought the blaze
“The building was a completely alight with flames coming high out of the roof.
“It was terrifying to watch as the building was an inferno.
“The noise of the fire and all the commotion was pretty shocking.”
The cause of the blaze is still unclear but Jean said the building had been a magnet for anti-social behaviour and vandalism for several years.
She said: “Despite being fenced off and boarded up the building had been broken in to a number times and police have been called numerous times too.
“While it’s shocking to see the extent of the damage nobody around here is surprised by last night’s fire.”
Another resident who asked not to be named said the fire was “a disaster waiting to happen for years.”
He added: “The site had been earmarked for redevelopment but ever since plans to build flats was knocked back the building has been repeatedly broken into.
“Fencing had been erected to keep people out but that clearly didn’t work and now we’ve had the fire.
“It’s already an eyesore and now the building is gutted.
“The sooner they pull it down and redevelop the site the better it will be for everyone who lives here.”
Investigation into the cause of the Lochgelly fire has begun
Police have confirmed that they have launched an investigation to find out how the fire was caused.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “At around 1.10am on Sunday, we were made aware of a fire on Grainger Street in Lochgelly.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.”
