Devastating impact of Glasgow fire 'like something out of the Blitz'

Paul Sweeney said he was "gobsmacked by the scale of the destruction" and insisted there needed to be tighter regulations in place to protect historic buildings.

The fire broke out at a vape shop on Union Street at around 3.45pm on Sunday and later spread into an inferno that engulfed the B-listed Victorian building, causing its partial collapse.

"To see a well-loved and such an iconic, postcode view of Glasgow wrecked in this way is really jarring and really upsetting,” Mr Sweeney, who represents Glasgow, told The Scotsman.

Watch: Huge fire near Glasgow Central station rips through building as firefighters battle blaze

"It is a building that has stood for 175 years. It predates Central Station itself by about 30 years. It's pretty gutting to see it in this condition.

"I've been in touch with a conservation architect and engineer this morning about the potential for salvage of at least the Gordon Street elevation. It's touch and go."

The Labour MSP added: "I think it raises serious questions about regulatory oversight of these vape shops, particularly in proximity to critical national infrastructure and historic buildings.

"This building was constructed in 1851. It didn't have even the later Victorian fire protection standards. So why are we putting a lithium powder keg inside it? It's just extraordinary."

Only the façade of the building at the corner of Gordon Street and Union Street has been left standing.

Mr Sweeney earlier described it as a “gutted shell” in an interview with BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme. “It looks like something out of the Blitz,” he added.

The latest blaze will add to concerns about the loss of Glasgow’s built heritage. In 2018, the world-famous Glasgow School of Art was devastated by fire for the second time in four years.

The campaigning charity SAVE Britain's Heritage said it was “deeply concerned by the news of yet another catastrophic fire in Glasgow”.

Mr Sweeney said many historic buildings will be vulnerable to fires, but argued there is a lack of building control and planning enforcement in Glasgow.

Glasgow East MP John Grady said “too many buildings” in the city had been “lost to neglect and fire”.

He added: "A thorough investigation must take place to understand what has happened. The site must not be left in limbo. It needs to be redeveloped - to provide new opportunities for the people of Glasgow."

Glasgow North MP Martin Rhodes said: "The cause needs to be investigated, and it needs to be investigated quickly and fully.”

SNP councillor Ruairi Kelly, the city’s convener for housing and development, said: “This fire has had a devastating impact and destroyed a building which has stood for over 175 years.

“Clearly we will need to wait on the investigation to establish the facts but if it is the case that vape batteries caused or significantly contributed then we need to look at where, if anywhere, it is suitable to sell and store these in the city.

“This is the heart of Glasgow’s conservation area and the reinstatement of the building should be a priority for any plans going forward.”