Firefighters still battling to subdue fire at Glasgow fruit market

More than 400 workers evacuated after blaze took hold at around 4am and quickly spread through the building

The fire took hold at Blochairn fruit market in eastern Glasgow at around 4am on Thursday, just as suppliers, traders and customers were starting work. It spread quickly through offices on its upper floor.

At the height of the blaze, the Scottish fire and rescue service was using 12 appliances and four aerial firefighting platforms, and it is still trying to subdue the flames.

One theory is that a fridge caught fire, with local residents and workers at the site hearing loud bangs as gas bottles exploded. Speed restrictions were imposed on the M8 motorway nearby, but later lifted.

Donald Neilson, a fish merchant who witnessed the blaze, told the BBC: “It really was like a raging inferno through there at the far end. I ran back in and shouted to our staff, ‘Everybody get out right now’.”

More than 400 people who work at the market were evacuated and there were no reported casualties. However, the blaze is expected to disrupt supplies of fruit, vegetables, meat and fish for hundreds of shops, restaurants and cafes in the Glasgow area and western Scotland.

Source: Firefighters still battling to subdue fire at Glasgow fruit market | UK news | The Guardian