A home brewing kit sparked the evacuation of a Kirkcaldy street on Tuesday night, police have confirmed.
Mystery still surrounds the exact circumstances behind the death of a 37-year-old man at his address in Balfour Street, with the discovery of what have been described as “potentially volatile” materials leading to the evacuation of a number of homes and buildings nearby.
The flammable materials were assessed by bomb disposal experts and residents were given the all clear to return to their homes in the early hours, but Police Scotland say the man’s death is currently being treated as “unexplained” pending further enquiries.
However, there are thought to be no suspicious circumstances.
Investigations are continuing, but Chief Inspector Tom Brown, Local Area Commander for Kirkcaldy, was keen to quash rumours circulating locally that there may have been something far more sinister behind the chemicals found at the property.
He said: “We would like to take this opportunity to reassure local residents within the Balfour Street area, and the wider community within Kirkcaldy that there was no risk to the public following the police and EOD response to an address.
“Officers had intially attended to conduct inquiries into the sudden death of a 37-year-old man and during this time they found some items within the property, which gave them reasonable cause for concern.
“As a precaution, neighbouring homes were evacuated until the EOD conducted their inquiries.
“It has since been established that the items were used in the production of home-brewed alcohol and did not pose a risk to the public.
“We thank those affected for their patience and co-operation while expert assessment of the items concerned was carried out.
“The man’s death is currently being treated as unexplained, however, there appear to be no suspicious circumstances.”
Police forced entry to the ground floor flat after receiving a call from a worried member of the public shortly after 6pm and found the man – who is believed to be of eastern European origin – unresponsive within.
It is understood that the items which prompted the evacuation of surrounding properties were subsequently discovered during a routine sweep of the flat.
