Demolition begins at King Street, Kilmarnock after devastating blaze<br />Kilmarnock fire: Huge blaze breaks out in Scottish town centre with fire crews in attendance and roads closed<br />Firefighters have been battling a blaze that has spread through a number of buildings in Kilmarnock.<br /><br />Emergency services were alerted at around 9.30pm on Monday to a fire on the ground floor of a premises on Sandbed Street, which then spread to other premises.<br /><br />Officers say they are treating the fire as “wilful” and that their investigation is ongoing.<br />The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) dispatched two appliances and a height vehicle – but the fire soon spread across neighbouring premises.<br /><br />Fire crews remain on the scene.<br /><br />King Street remains closed to the junction with St Marnock Street and Sandbed lane also remains closed.<br /><br />A number of businesses have been impacted and will remain closed. There are no reported injuries.<br />An SFRS spokesperson said six appliances were fighting the fire at its peak in the early hours of Tuesday.<br /><br />Police Scotland said enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.<br /><br />Local area commander chief inspector Scott McCurdy said: “This was a large fire and I would like to thank our emergency service colleagues for their help throughout the night.<br /><br />“We understand the impact this fire has had on local businesses and I want to thank the public for their patience and assistance while we carry out our enquiries.<br /><br />“We are treating the fire as deliberate and our investigation is ongoing.<br /><br />“I am appealing to anyone who was in the area around the time of the fire and who saw anything suspicious to contact us.<br /><br />“I would also ask anyone who was in the area and who may have dash cam or private CCTV which could assist us to get in touch.<br /><br />“Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 3692 of July 14.”
