Firefighters to stay at Glasgow blaze site for ‘as long as it takes’

Firefighters say they will remain at the scene of a major blaze in Glasgow city centre for “as long as it takes”.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said a lot of work had still to be done to ensure the fire on Sauchiehall Street was completely extinguished.

About 30 firefighters and eight fire engines remained at the site last night and firefighting was “ongoing”.

SFRS officials also confirmed there is no risk to the public from asbestos after concerns were raised during the height of the blaze on Thursday.

Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay said: “There is still a lot of work to be done on the ground to ensure that this fire is completely extinguished.

“We will remain on the scene for as long as it takes and we are absolutely committed to preventing any further damage to surrounding properties and ensuring the area is made safe.” The SFRS says the blaze took hold in several commercial properties including a nightclub, causing extensive damage to a four-storey block.

Firefighters had been at the site since fire broke out just before 8.20am on Thursday.

Mr Ramsay added: “This was an incredibly difficult and complex incident – but the actions of our firefighters were and continue to be outstanding.

“This is a historic area of Glasgow – through our aggressive intervention and planning we were able to protect iconic buildings, such as the Pavilion Theatre, from significant damage.

“I would like to thank the hotels, businesses and people of Glasgow who opened their doors to our firefighters and our emergency service partners for their invaluable and continued support.”

An investigation will be carried out in “due course” to establish the cause of the fire.

Firefighters took precautions against toxic fumes