Firefighters tackle major Glasgow tenement fire

Firefighters today halted the spread into neighbouring properties of a fire which destroyed the interior of a shop and four flats in a tenement on the south side of Glasgow.

The residents of the flats were evacuated after the fire broke out in the ground floor shop in Southcroft Street, Govan.

The fire was reported to Strathclyde Fire & Rescue's Operations Control at 13:03hrs.

Two fire pumps from Pollok Community Fire Station, a pump from Govan and an Aerial Rescue Pump from Cowcaddens were first appliances at the scene. The incident was quickly made a Level 3 (8 pumps)after the fire spread from the ground floor up through the upper three floors and into the roofspace.

At the height of the blaze four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were inside the building, directing four hosereel jets at the flames. Outside, meanwhile, the main jets on two appliances were directed at the fire.

The fire was brought under control at 15:55.

Area Commander Garry Milne, in charge of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue's South Glasgow area, said: "Our firefighters succeeded, in very difficult conditions, in stopping the spread of the fire to adjoining tenements.

"The street was very icy so the firefighters had to make sure they had a sure footing outside the building."