LAST UPDATE | 16 Jun 2018
A FIRE HAS ripped through one of the world’s top art schools in the Scottish city of Glasgow throughout the night, as the historic building was undergoing major restoration work following another blaze four years ago.
The fire broke out at around 11.20pm last night at the Glasgow School of Art and more than 120 firefighters attended the scene to extinguish the blaze.
A restoration project, set to cost between €23 and €40 million, had been returning the world-renowned institution to its former glory following a fire in 2014
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s deputy assistant chief fire officer Peter Heath told reporters this morning that the Glasgow School of Art building has been “extensively damaged” as a result of the fire.
The fire has spread to adjoining buildings and firefighters continue to work to contain the flames.
“The building in which the fire as started has been extensively damaged in fire. It has reached from the ground floor right through to the roof. It is significantly damaged,” Heath said.
“We remain firefighting in what is a very challenging situation,” he said.
This is a devastating loss for Glasgow.
There have been no reported casualties and nearby properties have been evacuated as a precaution.
He said firefighters who had battled to save the building four years ago were distraught to be back at the scene after it went up in flames again.
“The fire has had a good grip of this building and it’s extensively damaged it, but the emotional attachment – there is a sense of loss not just amongst the firefighters but I am sure the citizens of Glasgow.”
Asked if any of the restoration work had been destroyed, Heath replied: “Given the extent of the fire, that would be a fair comment.”
In a statement, Deputy Chief Officer Iain Bushell of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “This is an extremely challenging and complex incident, but the response and professionalism of our firefighters has been exceptional.
“This will be a prolonged incident and crews will remain on the scene as they work to prevent further fire spread and damage.
“We would urge the occupants of surrounding buildings to remain indoors and keep their windows closed.”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her heart “breaks for Glasgow’s beloved” art school.
“This is clearly an extremely serious situation,” she added.
2014 fire
The fire comes after a blaze tore through the art school in May 2014, badly damaging the building designed by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that the fire looked “much worse” than the last one.
Iain Bushell, deputy chief officer for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, told the broadcaster that efforts to bring the fire under control are expected to be “prolonged”, and firefighters were facing “an extremely challenging and complex incident”.
Paul Sweeney, a Glasgow MP, said on Twitter: “Devastated that a major fire has broken out at the Glasgow School of Art tonight.
“It looks like the entire interior space is now fully alight. The best we can probably hope for is structural facade retention and a complete rebuild of the interior.”
With reporting by - © AFP 2018.
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