Update - Friday 24 October 2025

Significant progress has been made on site this week as preparations continue to safely extinguish the underground smouldering at Burleigh Street.

The construction of the temporary access road is almost complete, allowing our specialist contractors to reach the affected area directly and prepare for the next key stage of the operation. Excavation and extinguishing work will begin early next week (week commencing 27 October).

While the exact timescale for completing this work will depend on conditions as excavation progresses, we are confident that we are now moving quickly towards a full resolution.

The smouldering material will be carefully excavated and dowsed with water in a specially prepared area next to the site. No materials will be taken off-site at this time, and full containment and run-off protection measures will be in place throughout. Additional sand has already been brought to the site and will continue to be used to suppress smoke or smouldering, a method that has proven effective so far.

Thermal imaging will continue to be carried out regularly to map progress and ensure the area remains fully contained. The latest air monitoring samples continue to show that levels remain well within safe limits, and our contractors and geotechnical specialists remain on site daily, with regular meetings taking place with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as part of the process.

We want to thank nearby residents once again for their continued patience and understanding during this complex situation.

Some further vegetation removal has been necessary to complete the access route and allow safe movement of equipment. We are always reluctant to remove trees unless unavoidable, and we recognise how important local greenery and wildlife are to the community. Once the site is fully remediated and made safe, we will look at options to restore the area and replace lost vegetation wherever practical.

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Update – Wednesday 15 October 2025

Work to build a new temporary access road to the site will begin this week.  You may see more activity in the area as vegetation is cleared to make way for the road.

Specialist contractors will also be on site to carry out further groundworks, undertaking testing and analysis of the composition of the burning materials.  This will take around three days and will continue to inform our next steps in terms of the safe remediation of the land.

Towards the end of this week, further vegetation clearance will take place on the site to make way for the access road.  We expect this to take about five days.

Once the road is finished, we’ll continue with the next stage of work and the results from the groundworks testing will help us decide the best way to extinguish the fire safely.

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Update – 10 October 2025

Work continues at Burleigh Street as we make steady progress toward resolving the underground smouldering and delivering a long-term solution for the site.

Our specialist contractors are continuing on site, supported by technical experts who are closely monitoring conditions. The smouldering continues to be contained within the affected area, and air quality monitoring confirms that levels remain safe.

Preparations are now being made to create a new access road into the site to support ongoing works, which will begin shortly. Further vegetation clearance is also planned to help with safe site access and to allow our teams to continue investigations efficiently.

Specialist testing and analysis of materials already removed from the site is underway, helping to inform the next stage of our remediation plan. These investigations will guide the approach needed to fully extinguish the smouldering area and ensure the site remains stable and secure.

We appreciate residents’ patience and understanding while this complex work continues. Regular monitoring and safety checks remain in place, and we’ll continue to keep you updated as progress is made.

After attending to the fire, Fire and Rescue carried out inspections including air quality monitoring and levels are within normal range.

The council has assisted firefighters to gain access to the site by excavating some of the tougher vegetation and woodland. It is believed that historic coal waste is continuing to burn underground and, although there are no flames present, ignited coal waste does produce heat. This requires a longer-term solution which will involve specialist expertise to make a full assessment before we can backfill the site.

As a precaution, we have fenced off the affected area and request that residents stay away, particularly as excavation work is ongoing. There is no risk to public health.

Understandably, you may have concerns. Please be assured that the site has been contained and measures have been put in place to abate the fire. We are working with a range of agencies including Scottish Fire and Rescue and The Coal Authority to make further assessments before commencing a longer-term programme of works at the site.

We are continuing to work with contractors to establish the next steps that need to be taken in relation to the fire. Our officers are monitoring the fire on a daily basis which is in line with the advice provided and further information will be published as the council’s investigation progresses.

We are in the process of engaging with a range of agencies to ascertain the next steps and we will keep you informed.