Union Street fire spread 'rapidly' through concealed voids before being noticed

The Union Street fire spread “rapidly” through concealed voids before emergency services arrived on the scene, initial investigations have indicated.

Fire chiefs told the Safe Glasgow partnership that the investigation into the blaze, which engulfed the whole building on the corner of Union Street, remains active, but officials have “a strong working hypothesis regarding the cause”.

The fire on March 8 appeared to start in a vape shop at 105 Union Street before spreading to neighbouring buildings. Glasgow Central Station was closed for several weeks while the fire-ravaged building was demolished.

Area commander Andy Kenna said there is “no definitive timeline” for the completion of the final fire investigation report due to the “scale and complexity” of the incident.

However, he told the partnership that “initial investigation work indicates that the fire spread rapidly through concealed voids and cavities within the building”.

“This has been exacerbated by the construction and historic alterations,” he said, adding evidence suggests the fire had “already developed within these voids before the arrival of emergency services, enabling vertical and horizontal fire spread across multiple floors prior to visible flame emergence”.

The “working hypothesis” on the cause of the fire is being “refined in collaboration with investigative partners” and “remains confidential at this stage”.

On-site investigation work has been completed, with the process now focused on “detailed evidence analysis, including extensive data review and hypothesis testing to determine the fire’s origin and cause”.

The final report will be initially submitted to the procurator fiscal, with its public release “contingent upon the conclusion of any potential criminal proceedings”.

Mr Kenna said: “Given the high-profile nature of the incident, we are instructed to refer to the location strictly as 105 Union Street to avoid any misrepresentation or speculation regarding the premise or the fires caused.”

The Safe Glasgow partnership, which scrutinises police and fire activity, also heard two internal debriefs on the response to the fire have been carried out to “capture the learning and support continuous improvement”.