Body
A major fire destroyed a four-story building next to Glasgow Central Station, leaving Scotland’s busiest rail hub closed and disrupting rail services on Monday as firefighters worked through the night. Rail operators said all travel to, from and through the station was expected to be affected, with the station due to remain shut on Tuesday as officials assessed the damage and repairs.
The blaze started Sunday afternoon in a vape shop on Union Street, next to the station, according to the Associated Press report. The fire consumed the building as flames rose through the windows and out of the dome-capped roof, and most of the historic structure—built in 1851—collapsed overnight, leaving the facade standing.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said there were no injuries reported. Even so, the fire left the station area in chaos, with travel disrupted by emergency measures and operators planning for ongoing service changes while the building’s condition was evaluated.
Paul Sweeney, a member of the Scottish Parliament, compared what remained of the building to damage from Nazi bombings in Britain during 1940-41. Sweeney told the BBC that “It’s been completely wiped out, destroyed,” adding that “The building is a gutted shell. It looks like something out of the Blitz.”
First Minister John Swinney said it was “a huge relief nobody was hurt,” but said the damage was enormous and that disruption would be significant. He said his government would provide financial support to help the city recover from the impact of the fire.
People outside the station behind a police roadblock said they were shocked to see the ruins. Emma Reid told the BBC, “It’s just so sad,” and said, “It’s such an iconic building.”
Local businesses were also hit by the blaze, with multiple shops destroyed in the surrounding area. A cafe, a fish and chip shop and a hair salon were among the businesses wrecked by the fire, and “Sexy Coffee” said on Instagram that the shop had been destroyed while it vowed to rebuild.