‘No asbestos risk to public’ after major fire in Sauchiehall Street
Firefighters to stay on scene ‘for as long as it takes’ to put out blaze
There is no risk to the public from asbestos following the Sauchiehall Street blaze in Glasgow, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has said.
Confirmation came as around 30 crew members and eight engines remained in attendance at the site yesterday while the firefighting operation continued.
SFRS officials also said there was still a lot of work to be done to ensure the fire, which broke out on Thursday morning, is completely extinguished.
Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay said: “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 say the blaze took hold in several commercial properties including a nightclub, causing extensive damage to a four-storey block.
Firefighters have 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 take this opportunity 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.”
Glasgow police warned yesterday that a number of road closures would remain in place.
In a statement the force said:
This is a historic area of Glasgow. We were able to protect iconic buildings, such as the Pavilion Theatre, from significant damage