By Ryan Carroll

Copyright dailyrecord

Emergency services have battled through the night to control a huge fire after a blaze broke out at a motor garage in the Highlands. Fire crews were called to Caol industrial estate in Banavie, Fort William, after the alarm was raised at around 6pm on Thursday. Around 30 firefighters, seven fire appliances and specialist resources were quickly mobilised to the area. Homes in the area were evacuated as firefighters rushed to the scene. Residents were asked to keep their windows and doors shut and to avoid the area entirely if possible. Two casualties received treatment from ambulance crews while one was taken to hospital for treatment, as a precaution. The fire service have since confirmed that they left the scene insuring the area was made safe at around 5.30am on Friday. Lochaber businessman Sammy Cameron – who is standing as an Independent candidate in the by-election for the the Caol & Mallaig Ward, which took place yesterday – shared pictures of emergency services at the scene. Police, fire crews and the ambulance service could all be seen in attendance, with the surrounding roads closed off to the public. In a post on Facebook, Mr Cameron said: “Major fire in Caol as garage repair business engulfed in a devastating fire. Seven fire appliances in attendance at the height of the fire this evening as crews from neighbouring areas including Inverness and Glencoe in attendance. “Road closed until 7am at the earliest. The railway crossing is currently set to closed due to a power outage and the ScotRail train is currently still in Mallaig. “SSEN electricians are working through the night to try and restore power, to hopefully allow the railway line to reopen in the morning. “Two treated by paramedics as fire crews tackle the garage blaze.” Train operator ScotRail said its West Highlands routes had been cancelled as a result of the fire on Thursday night, and that a limited replacement service was in place. It’s understood the service has since returned to full operation. A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “Residents in Coal, Fort William are urged to keep windows and doors closed due to large volumes of smoke from a garage building fire at Caol industrial estate. Around 30 firefighters, seven fire appliances and specialist resources have been mobilised to the area. We were first alerted around 6pm. “A small number of nearby homes have been evacuated as a precaution and two casualties have received treatment from the Scottish Ambulance Service. Road closures remain in place and the railway crossing closed.” The cause of the blaze is currently unclear. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Emergency services are in attendance at a fire within a premises at Caol industrial estate in Banavie, Fort William, which was reported around 6pm on Thursday, 25 September, 2025. “One man has been taken to hospital as a precaution. A number of nearby properties have been evacuated. Residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed and avoid the area if possible.”