Glasgow Fruit Market fire accidental

The fire and rescue service says it's found no evidence of wilful fireraising in the massive blaze that devastated the market in August.

Blocairn
Published 27th Oct 2017

It took more than 70 firefighters hours to bring the fire at Blochairn market under control in August.

It ravaged the warehouse after breaking out as hundreds of workers began their shifts at the market in the early hours of August 17th.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service launched a major inquiry in the days following the blaze and have now reached the conclusion that it was not started intentionally.

Investigators have now reached the conclusion that it was not started intentionally.

A spokesman said: "We conducted an investigation into a fire at Blochairn Fruit Market and found no evidence of wilful fire-raising.

"A full report will be concluded in due course."

Explosions were heard inside as the fire spread rapidly through the building but staff were evacuated quickly and nobody was hurt.

"It just tore through the building and spread rapidly," he said.

"I started to run because of the smoke and once the fire brigade arrived they were shouting for people to get out."

The 32-acre site in the north east of Glasgow is the only wholesale fruit, vegetable, flower and fish market of its kind in Scotland.

More than two million tonnes of produce worth more than ÂŁ250m pass through it each year.

Some restaurants and grocers in the city were hit by shortages following the fire