A Glasgow MSP has called for a regulatory crackdown on vape shops after a fire that started in one such shop destroyed a historic city centre building and brought the area to a standstill. Paul Sweeney, Labour MSP for Glasgow, said the blaze that engulfed the Union Corner building on March 8 should serve as a wake-up call to authorities to 'get a grip' on vape shop regulations.
The fire, which began in a vape shop on the ground floor of the 176-year-old building, led to the collapse of the iconic dome of Forsyth House on Union Street. Sweeney highlighted the dangers posed by lithium batteries commonly used in vape products, describing vape shops as 'full of potential incendiary devices' and a 'powder keg' if not managed properly.
'It is lamentable, heartbreaking that a proud building that stood on Union Street for 176 years may have been destroyed due to apparent negligence at a shop that has been in operation for a few months,' Sweeney said. He stressed the need for any business using lithium batteries to be held to extremely high safety standards and inspected regularly.
The fire, which started at around 4pm on Sunday, produced a pall of black smoke and a series of explosions. Despite efforts by firefighters, the blaze proved difficult to extinguish, with Sweeney noting that lithium fires are 'fierce and very difficult to extinguish.' The building, designed by architect James Brown in 1851, housed several businesses including Subway, Paddy Power, and Shelter Scotland.
Sweeney expressed relief that Glasgow Central railway station, the busiest in Scotland, was not destroyed in the blaze. He called for an immediate review of building controls and safety regulations for vape shops, questioning how many such shops have sprung up in recent years and what diligence is being done to ensure their safety.
