A significant fire in downtown Glasgow caused a disruption in Scottish train services on Monday as firefighters battled to extinguish the flames that ravaged a four-story building near Scotland’s busiest railway hub. Glasgow Central Station was shut down, leading to expected travel disruptions to, from, and through the station. The reopening time for the station remained uncertain, but closure was anticipated to continue into the following day on Tuesday.
The fire ignited on Sunday afternoon in a vape shop located on Union Street, adjacent to the railway station. The building was soon engulfed in flames, with fire visible through the windows and coming out of the roof. Dating back to 1851, the structure eventually collapsed during the night, leaving only the front facade intact.
Paul Sweeney, a Scottish Parliament member, compared the scene to the aftermath of the Nazi bombings in Britain during 1940-41. He described the building as “completely wiped out, destroyed,” resembling a shell reminiscent of the Blitz era.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney expressed relief that there were no reported injuries, emphasizing the extensive damage and expected disruptions. Swinney assured that the government would offer financial aid to support the city in its recovery efforts.
Witnesses behind police cordons expressed shock at the sight of the devastation. Emma Reid, one of the onlookers, described the incident as “so sad,” particularly noting the loss of an iconic structure. Among the establishments affected by the fire were a café, fish and chip shop, and hair salon.
Despite the destruction, Sexy Coffee, a business impacted by the fire, pledged to rebuild after confirming the loss of their shop. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, according to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Firefighters continued to combat the aftermath of the blaze on Monday, with smoke swirling around the older buildings in the vicinity.