The blaze at the mill on Friday night. Photograph taken by Jason Canning, from Dalgety Bay
A RAGING fire tore through the derelict Caldwell Paper Mill in Inverkeithing on Friday.
It was the second fire in as many days at the mill, in Harbour Place, following a fire on Thursday night.
Fife Fire and Rescue received the call-out at 10.32pm, with 11 fire appliances attending, plus an aerial ladder platform unit and a decontamination unit.
Police cleared onlookers from around the site following reports that there were chemicals in the building.
The fire continued to burn throughout the night and was brought under control at 7.03am the following morning.
Firefighters went in again on Saturday to dampen the place down.
It's expected that the building will be demolished in the wake of the weekend's fire but this has yet to be confirmed.
The mill was originally built in 1914 but closed in 2003 with a loss of 150 jobs.
iain queen Unregistered User Jun 28, 13:19
Comment: 12046
Its so sad 2 see these pictures of the mill i worked in the mill for 25 years and for the 1st 22 were the best days of my life it was like one big happy family honest we had shang, oggie,big galloway,ally,ricky,stobbie,pan.the punk,con man. wee jimmy just to name a few .I must of been the only person who liked going in to his work on a monday 12hr nights just to find out all the gossip from the weekend and that would last till midnight then go back 2 the job to fall asleep or read a book.All the water fights or a would go to the cutter house and talk to the women for a hour or 2 or old telford would put a call out for me great times or the bullet would give ur bum a wee feel come on son get back to ur job or wullie gibson telling u to wash the floor and u had a 5 ton half number on the floor,the time a phoned in saying ma granny had died forgot skip gibson wiz ma mums cousin and got a warning think it wiz ma final final sorry gran i could go on and on but u know what they were the best days of ma life am in oz now and a still dream about all ma friends and all the good times i had in the paper mill Report this comment
alec penman Unregistered User Jun 28, 14:34
Comment: 12051
Yep Queenie they were the days wee les, gregy and fitzy good times what about your trips wi yer books on the n/shift never mentioned that! marshallsey in the queer club (qc)and all the boys were a good laugh and great memories.what are you doing in oz? ran out of sheep in rosyth??? lol, take care Report this comment
alc penman Unregistered User Jun 28, 14:37
Comment: 12052
a nearly forgot what about when a got a brd and dyed ma hair like elvis hahahahahahaa Report this comment
iain queen Unregistered User Jun 28, 15:24
Comment: 12054
drivin buses in and out of perth kind of sad to see the way the the mill the way it is Remember that time shang never made the sunday and the next day finds out he wiz up on the roof and could nae get down tryin 2 get channel 4 and had 2 phone the fire services wot a laugh Report this comment
****** Unregistered User Jun 28, 15:37
Comment: 12055
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alec penman Unregistered User Jun 28, 15:55
Comment: 12056
ellie spinkss Unregistered User Jun 28, 16:14
Comment: 12057
such a sad story! i was down the ballast bank to see it and watched it from my window in fraz ave maaan! whoever done it is immature tbh, and need to get a grip of them-selfs. i feel so sorry for the firemen who had to stay there for 12 hours and try to get it under control because some silly person/people decieded to be smart and set it on fire!
Lesley Ballantine Unregistered User Jun 28, 18:46
Comment: 12068
It is so sad for the people who worked in the Paper Mill because they were the ones who worked there and that they have good memories of their workplace and their colleagues who they were working with. My uncle used to work there years ago and now they will be thinking "I worked there and now it's wasted" now they people or whoever done this to the building has destroyed it and it's just so sad, I mean why do it. Why?? It's an old building and off premises. Report this comment
worker Unregistered User Jun 28, 20:52
Comment: 12070
Its sad to see such long going paper mill been set up in flames probley been silly folk trying to get kick out of live .It makes you sick to the back teeth that folk would do such things it was the same with the old dunlops factory at pulmuir street dunfermline silly wee boys probley same done this silly wee boys they should be jailed for this .sickos Report this comment
JoJo in Oz Unregistered User Jun 29, 03:39
Comment: 12079
Indeed it is sad that such an iconic Inverkeithing landmark should be reduced to rubble this way. A sad indictment on the arsonist who set the fire and total disrespect for the towns inhabitants and history. Has society in Inverkeithing totally broken down to the point people just don't care? Report this comment
Greig McNeill Unregistered User Jun 29, 09:47
Comment: 12083
'Has society in Inverkeithing totally broken down to the point people just don't care' ?? What a stupid, ill-informed comment from an outsider. Inverkeithing needs comments like that like a hole in the head. It's great to see posts from the men who worked with my dad in The Mill. Queeny, are you back for T in The Park?! Kenny Morgan will be crying into his paella on the Costa del Crime after hearing this news!! It was a great employer and a great workplace in its time. Everyone knew someone that worked there. I also wouldn't be so quick to point the finger of blame on so-called 'silly wee boys' There were two attempts in quick succession to burn the place down, that to me stinks of a calculated piece of arson and not the work of silly little boys. Still, I’m quite sure the chronically inept Alice McGarry and her ilk will oppose any development and outside investment to keep the current status quo with the far from broken down society! Bring back Captain Jacks, The Anchor Inn, the Mill and Bernard Roach shooting randomly at passers by! Report this comment
****** Unregistered User Jun 29, 13:47
Comment: 12090
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****** Unregistered User Jun 29, 15:11
Comment: 12093
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Mark Svaasand Unregistered User Jun 30, 00:32
Comment: 12096
Its not a case of opposing any redevelopment or outside investment.Its the fact we have had the proverbial carrot dangled in front of us...and at the same time the disdainful attitude of developers who say they will just walk away if they dont get their way(400 new homes).I for one dont like the idea of being held to ransom.
The mill land...polluted and reclaimed...would have large town houses built on it...how many of inverkeithings residents would be able to afford them? What about affordable housing?what about the schools/nursery..could they cope with this amount of new residents?What about doctors surgery...its already a nightmare getting an appointment at the moment.
Im all for redevelopment as im sure every resident is.Provided it benefits the community,creates jobs,enhances and safeguards the ecology by the waterside and still pays homage to our towns historical industry.I dont see how these houses or this development will do any of that.
I will admit that it doesnt seem like a couple of silly kids....especially the way it went up.
I am concerned about the asbestos in the mill and the movement of these particles during the fire. Report this comment
thehaggis Jun 30, 03:13
Comment: 12098
Greig,
it was not my intention to upset you. Indeed I think as a a former insider looking from the outside my comments are warranted. Its a reasonable question to ask given that the fire was obviously started by an arsonist. If locals are setting fire to buildings for kicks then obviously something is wrong with Society!
I had many many fun nights in Captain Jacks and fond memories of fun times in Inverkeithing. Its sad to see it declining into the biggest slum in fife. Report this comment
Greig McNeill Unregistered User Jun 30, 09:46
Comment: 12100
Mark, you must have been schooled at the house of McGarry! Let's start looking at what we can do to help the town not what we can oppose. As a community we surely need to adopt a more positive approach to outside investment? How do you propose to reverse the ever worrying trend of small shops/businesses closing in the town? Government policy will only make things worse in the short-term. Our only saving grace maybe the building of the new bridge and the building of the new air-craft carriers at the Dockyard which will hopefully bring jobs and much needed cash into the area. Let private developers take on the responsibility of cleaning and revitalising the old Paper Mill site. Get new blood and money in and give the whole place a shot in the arm (metaphorically speaking!) Albeit on a smaller scale, the development of the old Ex-Serviceman’s club was a huge success. There are a whole generation of commuters who would move to a well developed area in close proximity to Edinburgh. I'm no expert on the subject matter but is there not a law covering any mass development and affordable homes? How has Dalgety Bay survived all the recent development with no new doctor’s surgery or schools? Think positive man! As a kid I used to look out my window and see the water in Inverkeithing bay changing colours on a daily/weekly basis depending on the activity in The Mill. I think any development of that area would be ecologically beneficial! In saying that, the swans always swam in and out the car wrecks and supermarket trolleys in the river! As councillors I would say it was their duty not to oppose such developments but to ensure that proper homage is paid to the industrial past. If you keep looking backwards then you'll never properly move forward. Take the post from the haggis/jo-jo for example; he/she has moved our status from broken society to the biggest slum in Fife and she's almost as optimistic about the place as you & Alice Mc!! Salute! Report this comment
Jambo Unregistered User Jun 30, 14:14
Comment: 12107
Great pics there Alec - I had some nice ones taken just before the mill closure, while the machines were still running. Unfortunately they were 'lost' by someone in Personel. There is still a video available (made by students of Lauder Tech.) and that shows the place in it's former glory.
It is a shame the place had to go like this, and it would have been nice for at least some of the old buildings to be used as part of the new development. However, we have to move on, and I hope the police find who's responsible for the fire, kids or not. Report this comment
Mark Svaasand Unregistered User Jun 30, 15:39
Comment: 12109
First things first...im no nationalist...its one step away from Facism.
how would the building of the new bridge benefit us?...there are no facilities nor amenities in the area.people aint gonna stop off and wander round a new housing complex, nor are they gonna nip up and have a drink in the town.Describe to me how you see the development at ex-service mans as a success........was there an increase in sales in pubs,shops......if there was it was minimal.Majority of people who move into areas dont necessarily(spelling) spend money in that area.an increase in population doesnt mean an increase in business and profits.The demise of small businesses is evident everywhere.People arent using small shops they prefer to contribute to the monopoly held by Asda and Tesco.I would love to see another fruit and veg shop in high street like Hector Smiths.Yet how could they compete with the big boys.
The land should be used for other businesses,shops,saling club,outdoor/water sports,bars,cafes,hotels but not houses......We have an old primary school lying redundant along with the old library,development down by stephens drive has ground to a halt leaving a huge crater like eyesore.
How would this (papermill)development pay homage to the industrious past? Its going to be Town houses!! Lets not forget that its not only councillors who are in opposition but also community council...they do not see any benefits for the community regarding this and i agree.
Regarding the ecology of area....im afraid to say that these days the water and diversity in flora and fauna has greatly improved due to the closure of papermill(still think it is shocking the mill was taken over by that Swedish company and then sold off)
We now have Kingfishers in burn ,common seal,dragon flies,golden eye,tufted duck in bay area all of which are protected...there are nesting sights actually in papermill land.What will happen to these species when these houses are built and there is an increase in traffic?
alanp Unregistered User Jun 30, 17:09
Comment: 12114
good times had by all in this place, i remember you queenie and your brother, big shang, kojak, hoppy and big lino to name but a few.
sad to see this once great place reduced to smoking rubble Report this comment
Greig McNeill Unregistered User Jun 30, 22:02
Comment: 12122
Nothing wrong with a bit of facism Alice, sorry I mean Mark. It must be better than the atrocious Con/Lib coalition we are saddled with now
First things first, my views are not idealistic. I, along with my mate, owned a bar in Inverkeithing for the best part of 4 years so I'm looking at things through the eyes of someone who has run a small business in the town. In my opinion, the building of the new bridge will bring a multitude of contractors to the area and these contractors, when living away from their nearest and dearest, spend a lot of their hard-earned cash in the pubs and small shops of the town. They also live in the local B&B's etc and this can only be good for the area. The contractors previously in the area from Northern England certainly kept our pub open for longer than it really should have. If we then have the Dockyard offering apprenticeships for the foreseeable future then we may start to see some growth. The work coming to the yard will also attract many of the afore-mentioned contractors. The land where the ex-servicemans club was an eyesore for months before it was redeveloped. I think the new looking flats are good and are constantly occupied. The area is safe, clean and all's well. It's a fair, albeit defeatist, assumption that new people into the area won't necessarily spend money in the local shops but it's also a fair assumption that they will. My glass is always half full. I can't possibly agree with your suggestions for development; I don't think we can sustain another pub or hotel. I think you've mis-interpreted my remark on paying homage to the industrial past. My thoughts were to have a monument kind of thing (the old gatehouse or Caldwell 1914 sign etc) similar to other redeveloped industrial areas, which would be a constant reminder of the past. I wasn't suggesting they build another Queenmary Terrace down there! Why does it matter what type of housing they build? you worried they might not blend into the nearby Spitalfield? On the ecological issue, I'm sure that these animals, as they did when the Mill closed will move somewhere else and settle and wildlife will re-settle down there once it is all cleared and redeveloped. No matter what happens down there, there will be some displacement of the wildlife. Surely we're not talking about extinction here?
My dad lost his job when the Mill closed and the answer to your question is they were losing £2m a year. The much maligned Swedish company probably gave the men a few more months than was to be expected. Boys like Kenny Morgan used to sleep most of the time in there and it was badly mis managed...only kidding, it became a lot cheaper to produce paper in parts of Europe. Peace & Harmony Report this comment
Stuart Bishop Unregistered User Jul 2, 11:52
Comment: 12171
I worked in Production Planning for 2 years from '96-'98.Best two years of my life.Sad to see the old place left to rot then this.By the way Queenie I'm still at Central and it's even worse than when you left. Report this comment
Cathleen Unregistered User Jul 11, 16:21
Comment: 12349
Greig, that brought back so many memories,the colour of the the water we could see it daily from our houses, and my Mum's obsession with the soot from the mill Chimney coming onto her window ledges. John worked there for over 20 years, some of the best laughs he had were working with your Dad. We were in Inverkeithing that night and seen so many people who worked there. It was really sad to see it on fire. Report this comment
uncle joe Unregistered User Jul 27, 21:11
Comment: 12668
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