Emergency services are battling a severe fire in the heart of Glasgow's city centre, with flames erupting from buildings near two prominent hotels. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted shortly after 6pm on Saturday evening, dispatching a major response to Wilson Street in the Merchant City area.
Scene of the Blaze and Emergency Response
Eleven fire appliances rushed to the scene following multiple 999 calls, with the first report logged around 6:18pm. Dramatic footage from the location shows huge flames and thick plumes of smoke pouring from the roof of a building situated above the city's iconic Polo Lounge nightclub. Eyewitnesses described a rapidly developing situation as the blaze took hold.
The fire is reported to be affecting premises connected to two hotels: the House of Gods and the Revolver Hotel. As firefighters work to contain the flames, nearby buildings have been evacuated as a precautionary measure. Glasgow City Council has confirmed the closure of Glassford Street between Ingram Street and Trongate, advising all road users to avoid the area.
Community Impact and Disruption
The incident has caused significant disruption during the festive period. Crowds of revellers watched on as the emergency operation unfolded. A sold-out meet and greet event with TV drag queen Bailey J Mills, scheduled for the Polo Lounge less than two hours after the fire broke out, was inevitably affected.
The Homeless Project Scotland was forced to evacuate and close a soup kitchen it was operating near the fire scene. The charity confirmed everyone at the kitchen was safe and stated the service would remain closed until further notice while the situation is assessed. They promised to share updates on reopening or alternative arrangements as soon as possible.
Ongoing Incident and Safety
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has stated that the incident remains ongoing. It is not currently known if there are any injuries as a result of the fire. The scale of the response underscores the seriousness of the blaze, with crews expected to remain on site for a considerable time to fully extinguish the fire and dampen down hotspots.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and a full investigation will likely commence once the immediate danger has passed. Authorities are urging the public to stay away from the Wilson Street and Merchant City vicinity to allow emergency services unimpeded access.
