Residents forced from homes by major blaze in Glasgow flats Published duration 10 December 2019

media caption More than 60 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze

About 200 people had to leave their homes after a fire ripped through a block of flats in Glasgow.

The fire broke out at the building on Lancefield Quay, on the north bank of the Clyde, at about 18:40 on Monday.

Sixty firefighters and 15 appliances tackled the "well-developed" blaze in the second floor of the three-storey building. No-one was hurt.

One senior firefighter said they did a "remarkable job in very challenging circumstances", due to wind and rain.

Roddie Keith, area commander for Glasgow, said it was a "very significant and complex incident".

"The fire was extinguished earlier this morning so we've scaled the incident down but we will have resources on site for quite some time to make sure there are no deeper-seated pockets of fire that could flare up at a later stage," he said.

image caption The extent of the damage could be seen on Tuesday morning

Some residents could be allowed to return to their homes at some point on Tuesday - at least to collect their belongings, he added.

But he was unable to give a timescale on when people would be able to return to flats directly affected by the blaze.

The property was an award-winning 1980s conversion of a quayside transit store, originally built in 1947, into 92 flats and maisonettes.

One resident told the BBC she was sure the building would have to be demolished.

Sheena Anderson, who has lived in the block for 17 years, said her home had been destroyed.

"It will be demolished," she said. "They've got all the water that's coming down from the house above me.

"If a wee trickle comes, it pours down the walls, so my house will be demolished. Nothing surer. I can't believe it.

"I've got what I'm standing up in.

"OK, it could be worse, but that's a terrible fire. What caused it, they don't know."

Warehouse to show house

image copyright WF Millar/Geograph image caption The apartments face out onto the River Clyde

The Lancefield Quay flats opened in 1989 as part of an urban renewal plan by house builders Wimpey.

The homes were created from what had been a Glasgow City Council-owned warehouse between the Kingston Bridge and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.

The architectural design was described at the time as a "triumph of ingenuity" with each apartment's porthole-shaped windows looking out over the River Clyde.

The Broomielaw side of the building has also since been redeveloped into luxury flats, offices, shops and restaurants.

Abdullah Alharbi, who has lived in the neighbouring flat with his family for two years, said: "I'm feeling terrible.

"All my documents and papers, everything is at my flat and I'm scared about it."

BBC reporter Graham Fraser said: "There were lots of flames earlier. Now I can see a hole, about 15m long in the roof of the building with smoke pouring out still."

image caption Firefighers were dampening down on Tuesday morning

image caption There were 60 firefighters on the scene at the height of the blaze

Glasgow City Council said Lancefield Quay, the main road that runs alongside the Clyde in Glasgow, was closed between Elliot Street and Hydepark Street.

It added that Lancefield Quay was also closed eastbound at the junction with Finnieston Street. Anderston Quay is closed westbound at the junction with North Street.

Residents of the building were sent to a local hotel, where support finding alternative accommodation was offered.

Related Topics Glasgow