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Firefighters still battling to subdue fire at Glasgow fruit market Firefighters battle to subdue fire at Glasgow fruit market
(35 minutes later)
More than 70 firefighters have been tackling a major fire in Glasgow that has engulfed large parts of one of the UK’s largest wholesale food markets.More than 70 firefighters have been tackling a major fire in Glasgow that has engulfed large parts of one of the UK’s largest wholesale food markets.
The fire took hold at Blochairn fruit market in eastern Glasgow at around 4am on Thursday, just as suppliers, traders and customers were starting work. It spread quickly through offices on its upper floor.The fire took hold at Blochairn fruit market in eastern Glasgow at around 4am on Thursday, just as suppliers, traders and customers were starting work. It spread quickly through offices on its upper floor.
At the height of the blaze, the Scottish fire and rescue service was using 12 appliances and four aerial firefighting platforms, and it is still trying to subdue the flames.At the height of the blaze, the Scottish fire and rescue service was using 12 appliances and four aerial firefighting platforms, and it is still trying to subdue the flames.
One theory is that a fridge caught fire, with local residents and workers at the site hearing loud bangs as gas bottles exploded. Speed restrictions were imposed on the M8 motorway nearby, but later lifted. One theory is that a fridge caught fire, with residents and workers at the site hearing loud bangs as gas bottles exploded. Speed restrictions were imposed on the M8 motorway nearby, but later lifted.
Donald Neilson, a fish merchant who witnessed the blaze, told the BBC: “It really was like a raging inferno through there at the far end. I ran back in and shouted to our staff, ‘Everybody get out right now’.”Donald Neilson, a fish merchant who witnessed the blaze, told the BBC: “It really was like a raging inferno through there at the far end. I ran back in and shouted to our staff, ‘Everybody get out right now’.”
More than 400 people who work at the market were evacuated and there were no reported casualties. However, the blaze is expected to disrupt supplies of fruit, vegetables, meat and fish for hundreds of shops, restaurants and cafes in the Glasgow area and western Scotland.More than 400 people who work at the market were evacuated and there were no reported casualties. However, the blaze is expected to disrupt supplies of fruit, vegetables, meat and fish for hundreds of shops, restaurants and cafes in the Glasgow area and western Scotland.
Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “While we haven’t carried out any formal work on the economic work on the impact of the blaze, obviously for the companies based at the site it is devastating and, given the scale, will have a knock-on effect on supplies to the catering and hospitality industries all across the region. Stuart Patrick, chief executive of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “While we haven’t carried out any formal work on the economic work on the impact of the blaze, obviously for the companies based at the site it is devastating and, given the scale, will have a knock-on effect on supplies to the catering and hospitality industries all across the region.
“We are making contact with the city council to see what can be done to mitigate disruption in the aftermath while reaching out to our members to find out about how their operations have been affected.”“We are making contact with the city council to see what can be done to mitigate disruption in the aftermath while reaching out to our members to find out about how their operations have been affected.”
One major food wholesaler and supplier which uses Blochairn market, Total Produce, said it had diverted its Glasgow staff to its Edinburgh depot. One major food wholesaler and supplier that uses Blochairn market, Total Produce, said it had diverted its Glasgow staff to its Edinburgh depot.
Glasgow fruit market fire. Edinburgh Foodservice unaffected, business as usual . Glasgow wholesale dept joining team here in Edinburgh.Glasgow fruit market fire. Edinburgh Foodservice unaffected, business as usual . Glasgow wholesale dept joining team here in Edinburgh.
Jim McGhee, who owns a fruit and vegetable shop in Castle Douglas, a market town about 90 miles south of Glasgow, said he had been at the market at 2.30am to collect produce.Jim McGhee, who owns a fruit and vegetable shop in Castle Douglas, a market town about 90 miles south of Glasgow, said he had been at the market at 2.30am to collect produce.
“I had been there for about an hour and the fire alarms went off,” he told the BBC. “Within 10 minutes the fire had spread right through the bottom end of the market and gas cylinders were exploding. It was really quite bad.”“I had been there for about an hour and the fire alarms went off,” he told the BBC. “Within 10 minutes the fire had spread right through the bottom end of the market and gas cylinders were exploding. It was really quite bad.”
Efforts to combat the fire were initially hampered by low water pressure in the area. Scottish Water engineers were called out to help remedy the problem.Efforts to combat the fire were initially hampered by low water pressure in the area. Scottish Water engineers were called out to help remedy the problem.