FIREFIGHTERS are tackling a blaze at the historic Howden industrial complex in Glasgow.
Flames have been seen going through a roof at the rear of the former Howden's engineering works which has been vacant for over 30 years.
Footage appears to show the fire emerging from a roof, and fire engines are on the scene.
Some drivers reported that the smoke had obscured views at the merging of the M74 and M8.
Councillors last year indicated agreement that the area could be redeveloped for residential, commercial use.
READ MORE: Historic Scots engineering firm Howden set to be sold
The site, which contains B-listed buildings, surrounds the Category ‘A’ Listed Charles Rennie Macintosh designed Scotland Street School.
It mainly fronts on to Scotland Street and Shields Road with the Glasgow to Paisley rail line to the south.
Fire in Glasgow. Close to Scotland Street. Driving made difficult due to smoke @RadioClydeNews pic.twitter.com/ni3ipxkTzi
— Scott Nicol (@ScottNicol99) August 25, 2019
The main activities on site were to be for business space and residential uses with an element of small-scale commercial use in the form of retail, office and restaurant/café.
Howden had its roots in 1962, when James Howden & Co was established initially to manufacture marine engines and boilers.
Towards the end of its life, the redbrick complex in Scotland Street was the birthplace of the tunnel boring machines used to excavate the Channel Tunnel, which opened in 1994.
The Scotland Street site, which once employed 1700 people during the Second World War, has been vacant since Howden transferred their operations.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "We have received calls about a fire in the area of Glasgow's south side.
"Crews are on the route to the scene now."
The B listed Howden’s factory buildings on Scotland Street look to be well ablaze alas... pic.twitter.com/xKHoyoDD37
— Niall Murphy (@MurphyNiallGLA) August 25, 2019
Police Scotland said officers had attended but said the blaze is not something they are investigating.
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