Timeline
Friday 23.00 People coming out of pubs and walking on Sauchiehall Street and Renfrew Street notice smoke and flames coming from the art school. The student graduation ceremony had taken place earlier in the day. It’s just over four years since the fire in the Mackintosh building devastated the library designed by renowned Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. 999 calls go into the emergency services
23.19 The first fire tenders arrive. In all there are to be 15 deployed with 120 firefighters tackling the massive blaze. Crews are called in from all over Scotland, from as far away as Perth and West Lothian. Fire crews find 50 per cent of the building already engulfed in flames. Those who fought the previous fire are commenting that this one is considerably worse.
23.25 Witness Aidan Dick watches the fire and smoke grew in intensity "in the space of a few minutes" in the latest blaze.
He tweets: "Glasgow School of Art is on fire again. Heartbreaking. My thoughts go to all students and staff, and I hope no one was caught in the blaze."
23.30 It is now clear that the fire has also taken hold on several properties, including the O2 ABC venue on Sauchiehall Street. Nearby buildings are being evacuated as a precaution and people living in the area are urged to stay indoors and keep their windows closed. Surrounding streets are closed off.
By now the fire can be seen from miles away across the city.
Saturday 00.45 People can be seen running from buildings close to the fire.
Firefighters continue to fight the blaze throughout the night, bringing it largely under control.
Saturday 9.00am There are still pockets of fire. Jets of water are being sprayed from turntable ladders. It is now clear that the roof of the O2 has collapsed. Acrid smoke is blowing down Sauchiehall Street and Renfrew Street. Passers-by are stopping to take photographs and selfies.
14.28 Glasgow School of Art thank people for their support and say that all buildings will remain closed for the next week.
14.38 Glasgow City Council leader Susan Baird is on the scene and has been shown the ravaged building close up. She says the council would welcome any assistance to the city. All people displaced are rehoused in temporary accommodation. Water is still being sprayed on the site and the O2. Pockets of fire still remain.
Baird is interrupted when First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives to talk to the press, She, too, has been shown round the site of the fire. She thanks firefighters, promises Scottish Government support and is grateful there are no casualties.
“First and foremost my thoughts are for the safety of people. At this stage it appears there are no casualties and I hope that continues to be the case.
“The professionalism and bravery of the Fire Service, and the rest of the emergency services, was once again demonstrated last night. This is clearly an extremely complex and large-scale incident, and one that is on-going. I would like to thank the emergency services for their continued efforts.”
A high volume pump that has been drawing water from the River Clyde is disconnected as the incident is scaled back.
Gigs at O2 ABC have been cancelled.
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