Firefighters worked overnight to contain the flames after a blaze broke out at a vape shop on Union Street.
Business owners in Glasgow have told how their livelihoods have been “wiped out” by a devastating inferno at a vape shop.
Firefighters worked overnight to contain the flames at the premises on Union Street after a blaze broke out at 3.46pm on Sunday, March 8. There were no reported injuries, however, the landmark building was destroyed, having collapsed after being engulfed by the fire.
At its height, 18 fire engines were drafted to the scene. Business owners at the address have told how they have “lost everything” as the building was pictured lying in a pile of smouldering rubble on Monday morning.
Scott McAnally, of Lucky in Love Tattoos, told the Record: “I was in Uist watching the fire on the TV and just couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It’s absolutely devastating. We were operating from the building for four years, now everything we have is gone. All we have left is a window frame.
“I estimate we’ll have lost around £40,000 worth of tools and items. We’re going to try and build back up again, but it’s not going to be easy.
“I hope that the council can speed up the process of business licensing applications for those looking for a new premise because as it stands, we’ll need to wait four months, which will be a further blow for small business owners who have been impacted.”
Sam Hendy, who owns S’Amuse Studio beauty parlour, estimates to have lost around £15,000 as a result of the blaze. The 32-year-old is now borrowing cash from family to build her business back up again.
Sam said: “I have lost absolutely everything – everything has been wiped out. I built my studio from the ground up. I lost makeup, brushes and tools that I had been collecting since the start of my career.
“I don’t have much savings behind me, so I’m going to have to rebuild from scratch by taking a loan from family so I can rebuild my kit again. Aside from this, that building was a landmark to Glasgow. Working there made me so proud.
“It’s devastating that this beautiful building, which survived two World Wars, has been destroyed by a fire at a vape shop when vapes are meant to be banned.”
Carina McCreery, co-owner of Hard As Gels nail bar, had only moved into the premises four months ago.
She said: “Absolutely everything has been wiped out. It was hard enough to start up, and now we’re going to have to do it all over again.
“Watching videos of the fire on Sunday night didn’t feel real – I just couldn’t believe it was on fire. I was genuinely hopeful at first that the fire could be contained, but everything is just ash now.”
National Rail said the Glasgow Central Station will remain closed with “no estimate on when it will reopen”. Shocking images show the structure of the building, understood to be around 175-years-old, melted away with police and fire crews at the scene on Monday morning.
The surrounding area remains taped off.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 3.46pm on Sunday, 8 March, to reports of a fire affecting the ground floor of a four-storey commercial building on Union Street, Glasgow.
“At its height, 18 appliances and specialist resources were mobilised. The incident has since been scaled back and nine appliances, including three high-reach vehicles, remain in attendanceThere are no reported casualties.”
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