Work has begun on rebuilding a north-east Fife vegetable processing factory ravaged by fire in April.
A blaze ripped through Kettle Produce’s Orkie Farm plant at Freuchie on April 9, destroying around two-thirds of it.
At its height, the fierce blaze, which began early in the morning, was fought by 50 firefighters and it was the following evening before it was completely extinguished.
Nightshift staff who were on duty were all safely evacuated.
Two marquees which were put up immediately after the incident are now being replaced and it is expected they will be removed early in the year. The marquees were put up to house a carrot wash line and grading plant so limited production could be undertaken on site by the company, which is one of the UK’s main suppliers of root vegetables to supermarkets and a major employer in the area.
Work began at the start of November on permanent reinstatement of the root vegetable wash, grading and part of the processing facilities lost as a result of the fire.
Kettle Produce is now seeking planning permission from Fife Council. It said it had started the ball rolling before consent was sought as there was an urgent need to restart production to keep customers and jobs.
In a statement lodged with the council, the firm’s agent CRGP Ltd says, “The first and second phase works have and are being progressed as quickly as possible, with the support of the property insurers, to ensure that the Kettle Produce Ltd business survives and continues to provide employment for the 515 persons directly engaged at the Orkie plant which also prepares vegetables for processing at the Kettle Produce Balmalcolm plant which currently employs 785 people.
“The plant also provides a market for the 60 plus local growers that supply the plant with vegetables.
“The plans for the third and final phase of permanent reinstatement works are currently in preparation and a planning application for that phase will be submitted to Fife Council for consideration in the near future.”
The fire was so intense that a huge plume of smoke could be seen for miles around.
As a result of the incident, 70 seasonal workers had their employment terminated earlier than planned and the remaining employees were moved to the company’s larger site nearby at Balmalcolm.