Fire in Glasgow Cultural Centre

Firefighters are currently engaged in damping down a fire in the Hindu Cultural Centre at La Belle Place near Glasgow's City Centre.

Fire crews from Yorkhill, Cowcaddens and Maryhill Community Fire Stations were mobilised to the architecturally impressive edifice shortly after 10 pm  last night.

On arrival the Incident Commander immediately tasked his crews to don breathing apparatus and attack the fire, which was visible from the outside of the building, using a combination of firefighting jets and hosereels.

The crews were required to use forcible entry techniques to gain access to the interior of the building via the ornate set of double doors before carrying out a controlled and concerted internal attack on the blaze.

The Incident Commander subsequently requested further resources via Strathclyde Fire & Rescue's Control Centre in Johnstone before utilising the on scene Aerial Rescue Pump to tackle the fire which had broken through the roof of the 30m x 15m premises.

The rapid intervention and professionalism of the fire crews, aided and abetted by the command and control measures put in place, ensured that the blaze was confined to the cultural centre and did not spread to the adjoining residential properties.

At the height of the fire 40 firefighters were in attendance at the scene.

Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, having set up an inner cordon around the hazard area, were greatly assisted by Strathclyde Police who took control of local traffic management.

The cause of the fire will be the subject of a joint investigation by the service's Incident Research and Investigation team and the Police.

There is no further information available at this time.