Police called to help with a fire in an empty shop in Cowdenbeath have discovered a “significant” cannabis farm in a flat above.
Firefighters went to the blaze at the former G’s Convenience Store on High Street on Tuesday morning.
The blaze then spread to properties above.
Police later told councillors the fire had spread so easily as internal walls had been removed in the flats above to allow for a “significant and specialist cannabis cultivation”.
Fire services remained in attendance at the scene for around 12 hours, leaving shortly at 9pm the same evening.
The street has also been reopened.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “At around 9.50am on Tuesday we were called to provide traffic management while the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dealt with a fire on High Street, Cowdenbeath.
“A cannabis cultivation was discovered within a property.
“Officers will remain on scene while an investigation is carried out and enquiries are ongoing.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman confirmed no casualties had been reported.
He said: “We were alerted at 9.30am on Tuesday to reports of a building fire on Cowdenbeath High Street.
“Operations control immediately mobilised four appliances to the scene.
“The last appliance left at 9.04pm.”
An eyewitness described how firefighters had to spring back into action after the shop blaze looked to have been brought under control.
He said: “I looked like it was under control but then flames could be seen at the window of the first-floor flat.
“A fourth fire engine arrived and police closed the whole area off including the High Street.
“It was alarming to see the flames suddenly appear so quickly.”
