Work to cool the cylinders exposed to the blaze in Haughfield Terrace continues today (March 21]and it is hoped residents will be allowed to return to their homes this evening.

Fife Council and the Women's Royal Voluntary Service set up an emergency centre in Kettlebridge Town Hall on Thursday, but most of the evacuees chose to spend the night with family or friends or were put up in a local hotel.

Two fire appliances and 10 firefighters attended the incident, which began about 4.30 p.m.

The hedge fire spread to a nearby shed and once it was extinguished, crews discovered the shed contained a number of acetylene cylinders.

Fife Fire and Rescue Service group manager Iain Kelly said due to the potential danger involved, local residents in the immediate vicinity were evacuated while fire crews remained on site overnight to cool down the cylinders.

The initial procedures included setting up a 50 metre evacuation zone and a further 200 metre hazard zone around the area.

Fife Council senior housing manager John Mills said the authority activated its emergency plans, which included setting up a shelter in the hall.

Those evacuated had the chance to collect essential belongings before heading to their alternative accommodation, he said.

Sergeant Phil Davison of Fife Police said: "This was potentially a very serious incident, which, thankfully through the combined efforts of all the emergency services has been contained."

Police cordons and road diversions will remain around the site until it has been declared safe by the fire service.

"Once the cylinders are safe, then we will allow people back into their homes – it is hoped this will be at 6 p.m. tonight, but I must stress safety is paramount and we will not take any risks with this," said Group Manager Kelly on Friday.

Nobody was injured in the incident and investigations into the cause of the blaze are continuing.

Further coverage of the incident will appear in next week's Fife Herald.