US Edition
Historic Block Destroyed in Vape Shop Fire Once Part of 'Glasgow's Piccadilly Circus'
Over £80,000 has been raised for six businesses destroyed in the fire that caused partial collapse of a 19th-century building next to Glasgow Central station.
- On Sunday, a blaze broke out on Union Street at around 15:45 and tore through the corner building at Gordon Street, destroying much of the 19th-century Union Corner block with only the facade left standing.
- Authorities say the fire is thought to have started in a vape shop adjacent to the station, with witness footage showing flames behind a counter and explosions from a socket box or adapter full of chargers.
- Lamin Kongira, 42‑year‑old chef, tried to extinguish the blaze, found no extinguisher inside, fetched one from a Subway, then retreated after loud bangs and reported headaches from smoke inhalation.
- Network Rail confirmed the station remains closed on Tuesday, with over 200 firefighters responding and more than 80,000 raised for six firms via GoFundMe.
- Experts noted many historic buildings lack modern fire protections, raising wider heritage concerns, while politicians including Anas Sarwar and Thomas Kerr urged tighter vape shop rules and temporary vape removals due to lithium‑ion battery risks.
11 Articles
11 Articles
'We see what's going on!' Fury erupts at Britain's 'Wild West' vape shops after devastating Glasgow fire
Calls are growing for a national crackdown on Britain's "wild west" vape shops after a row of historic buildings in central Glasgow were destroyed by a fire which started in one.On Sunday afternoon, what started as a small blaze in a vape shop ripped through the city's Union Street, eventually collapsing multiple buildings and wreaking transport chaos.It has since emerged that the premises had an application to become a takeaway shut down over e…
Chef ran in to exploding vape shop to try and stop Glasgow fire spreading
Lamin Kongira, who tried to tackle the fire which broke out in a building adjacent to Glasgow Central (Picture: Neil Pooran/PA Wire) A man who ran into an exploding vape shop to try and stop the fire that consumed historic buildings in Glasgow has been hailed for warning others to stay away. Lamin Kongira tried to tackle the fire which broke out in a building next to Glasgow Central railway station on Sunday. Footage shows the moment Mr Kongira …
Evening Standard
Passer-by tried to tackle vape shop blaze which went on to destroy building
Lamin Kongira was forced back by an ‘explosion’ in the vape shop.
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