Environment officers monitor Mossmorran flare after severe weather

Mossmorran startedf to flare in the early hours of today (Pic: Craig Lawson)

Scotland’s environment regulator has sent officers to Mossmorran to assess the impact of last night’s elevated flare.

Fife Ethylene Plant suffered a loss of power during the severe thunderstorms which swept across the region.

It is working to restore normal operations, and has apologised to local communities for the impact.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has sent officers to the area to monitor the situation.

Fife declares major incident - only travel if necessary

Neale Hanvey, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, has also been briefed on the flaring.

He said: “Amidst the thunderstorm last night, there was a need for elevated flaring at Mossmorran.

“Whilst this is regrettable, we must remember that short-term elevated flaring is an important safety measure and as I understand it, flaring was initiated in line with safety and operational procedures.

“The impact of last night’s storm has led to significant disruption this morning – as we’ve seen from the scenes at Pettycur Bay and Victoria Hospital car park, among others. Mossmorran is no different.

“The job now, at Mossmorran, and across Fife, is to tackle the damage caused by the flooding, lightning strikes and their impact on water and electricity supplies.

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspapers - the Fife Free Press, Fife Herald, St Andrews Citizen and East Fife Mail.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press