Plumes of toxic black smoke billowed into the sky above Paisley after yobs set a pile of dumped tyres alight.
Fire crews raced to tackle the blaze on waste ground near Blackstoun Road, in the Ferguslie Park area of the town, around 5.30pm on Wednesday.
Cops have launched a probe into the incident and are appealing for witnesses to come forward if they saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area.
Members of the public reported seeing the smoke from miles around before the fire was brought under control.
Ferguslie Community Council claimed chemical waste was also set alight in the fire.
A post on its Facebook page said: “Yet another toxic fire down at Inkerman.
“Burning tyres as well as huge loads of commercial waste causing God only knows what damage to our community’s air quality. This really needs to stop before someone is seriously hurt.”
Police probing the incident urged anyone with information to come forward.
Inspector Tracy Harkins, from the Paisley community policing team, said: “We are appealing to anyone who may has seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area to get in touch with officers.
“Deliberately setting fires can be extremely dangerous and the consequences, but for the quick actions of the fire service, could have been much more serious.
“We are carrying out enquiries into the fire and would ask anyone with information to come forward.”
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A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman added: said: “We were alerted at 5.35pm on Wednesday to reports of a large quantity of tyres on fire on Blackstoun Road.
“Operations Control mobilised two appliances to the scene to extinguish the fire.
“Crews left after making the area safe.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
