Fire crews continue to battle major blaze in Kilmarnock town centre
The fire broke out in a four storey shop overnight, and has since spread to other buildings
Last updated 15th Jul 2025
NEW: Police have confirmed they are treating the fire as deliberate and are asking people who saw anything suspicious to get in touch.
Firefighters have been working through the night to contain a major blaze affecting several buildings in Kilmarnock town centre.
Emergency crews were called out just after 9pm on Monday, following reports of a ‘well-developed’ fire that had broken out on the ground floor of a four-storey building on King Street.
'Six appliances'
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) initially sent two fire engines along with a height vehicle to the scene, but the flames quickly spread to adjacent properties, prompting a larger response.
At the height of the fire during the early hours of Tuesday, six appliances were involved in tackling the flames, according to an SFRS spokesperson.
Two fire engines and an aerial platform are still in place as of Tuesday morning, with surrounding streets sealed off and local businesses forced to shut.
While no injuries have been reported, nearby residents have been advised to keep their windows closed due to smoke in the area.
'The amount of smoke was incredible'
Stuart Tomanek lives on John Finnie Street in the centre of town and says he realised something was wrong when driving home: "There was a huge amount of smoke billowing out of all the windows.
"The amount of smoke coming out of that building was absolutely incredible.
"It looked to me that the fire was so well advanced that it would be virtually impossible to stop it.
"The scale of this, the size of the building and the rate of which the fire was getting worse, the smoke almost looked like a mushroom cloud from a nuclear bomb or something."
Photographs from the scene show jets of water being directed at the fire from above, with thick smoke rising from the building.
As a precaution, the Burns Mall has been closed alongside King Street, Sandbed Street and Sandbed Lane.
A number of surrounding roads leading to King Street and Sandbed Lane were closed but have since reopened.
'Enquiries ongoing'
East Ayrshire Council has asked the public to stay away from the area to allow emergency services space to operate safely.
Police Scotland confirmed that an investigation is under way to establish what caused the fire.
A spokesperson said: "King Street is closed up to its junction with St Marnock Street and Sandbed Lane remains closed.
"A number of surrounding roads leading to King Street and Sandbed Lane were closed but have since reopened.
"Nearby business premises have been impacted and will remain closed.
"Members of the public are asked to avoid the area at this time, and nearby residents are asked to keep windows closed.
"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire."