Fire Buffs promote the general welfare of the fire and rescue service and protect its heritage and history. Famous Fire Buffs through the years include Edward VII.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

METROPOLE - 1961

Photo: Glasgowlife


Photo: Glasgow University Library 
On Oct. 28, 1961, a blaze destroyed the Metropole Theatre on Stockwell Street in Glasgow. The venue opened as the Scotia Music Hall in 1862. It 
featured a 160-foot foyer that opened into a music hall lined with dark polished wood. The builiding was also the scene of a fire in 1875, Wikipedia said.

DUNDEE WHISKY FIRE - 1906


On July 19, 1906, a whisky-fed blaze broke out at Watson’s Bond in Dundee - and burned for two days.  "Two million gallons of whisky went up in flames or down the drain," The Courier newspaper said in an August 202 remembrance. "It was enough, it was claimed, to provide every man in Scotland with six bottles of the hard stuff."

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

DUNLOP STREET - 1898


Photo: The Glasgow Story


On April 25, 1898, fire struck Glasgow's Dunlop Street.

The Glasgow Story website provides details:

"The blaze began at about 10pm in the building on the north-east corner of Dunlop Street and Howard Street, which had apparently been lined with wood as it was built during a plasterers' strike. Within five minutes, the roof had fallen in.

"As crowds gathered to witness the spectacle, Captain William Paterson brought two steam fire engines from the Central Fire Station in College Street and called for four more from other divisions around the city. 

"Three of these engines drew water from the River Clyde as the fire spread across Dunlop Street and engulfed buildings as far as Ropework Lane to the east."

Statuary was moved from nearby St Andrews Cathedral as flames threatened to spread west.

Monday, July 12, 2021

EDINBURGH - 1824


Image: Wikipedia

The Great Fire on Edinburgh erupted
Nov. 15, 1824, and burned for five days. The disaster shortly after the city established a full-time fire brigade led by James Braidwood. An investigation exonerated Braidwood, according Wikipedia. He went on to lead London's fire service.

Friday, September 20, 2019

GREAT FIRE OF 1909


Firemaster Waddell

Glasgow's Great Fire of 1909 broke out on Aug. 17, apparently triggered by a gas explosion.

The conflagration destroyed buildings on Ingram Street, between Shuttle and High streets.

The website Glasgow Story said:

"Most of the buildings were warehouses thought to have contained wine, spirits, clothing and foodstuffs.

"At about 1 am the frontages of the buildings collapsed into the street.

"The falling masonry narrowly missing several firemen, who had come to the scene from Central Fire Engine Station, just round the corner on College Street.

"It took all night to put the flames out and the cost of repairing the damage amounted to over £250,000."


Glasgow Firemaster William Waddell provided the following account of the blaze to Fire Engineering, an American magazine:


"The fire had a firm hold when the brigade arrived. Five steam engines, two motors, one fire escape and two hose and ladder carriages responded. Sixteen hydrants were available. They were spaced about 180-ft. apart; seven had (2 1/2-in) outlets and nine with 2-in. outlets. The pressure varied from 80 to 90 lbs.

"Both gravity and direct pressure is stated to have been used. The mains, of which there were three, were 4, 7 and 9 inch, respectively. Ten engine streams were also thrown, making a total of 26 streams played.

"The nozzles ranged length of 17,000 ft. was employed, and of this 12 tenths burst It is described as `canvas.' Nozzles described as `G. F. B.' pattern were used; they had both screw and bayonet fastenings. The water supply was stated as plentiful."

The London journal Fire and Water published a blistering commentary:

"Glasgow has provided one more example of the foolishness of crowding together buildings of large area, erected without regard to fire risk, and of permitting the storage within such buildings of highly inflammable goods, without any provision for preventing the spread of any fire breaking out upon the premises.

"As is generally the case in such disasters, everything favored the rapid advance of the fire which broke out in one of the Ingram street warehouses shortly after midnight of August 16.

"The buildings, without any claim to fire-prevention in construction, were —owing it is said to a strike of plasterers at the time of their erection—doubly lined with wood, the stock was large, and consisted mainly of provisions and soft goods of an inflammable character, which a spell of hot, dry weather had prepared for ready ignition.

"Had the fire been discovered in its early stage it would in all probability have been dealt with as effectively as had previous fires in the same block of buildings, but starting late at night at the rear of the building, it had obtained so firm a hold before it made its existence known that it would have required a far more powerful firefighting force than was available to have prevented the destruction of the block.

"The dangerous character of the buildings was recognised by the late Firemaster Paterson, who expressed the view that no brigade in the world could ever save them should they once get well alight.

"It was recognised, too, by the insurance companies in their rating of the risks.

"The fact that the block destroyed was situate within a few yards of Glasgow’s new central fire station has, perhaps naturally, caused some adverse comment, thought it is obviously unreasonable to suggest that in the absence of means of giving the brigade earlier notification of the fire the firemen could have accomplished more than they did.”

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

STOCKLINE - 2004



1: Rescuers lower carbon dioxide monitors into cavities to check for breathing
2: Sensitive sound equipment detects vibrations which the human ear cannot pick up
3: People in collapsed buildings can survive for days in pockets formed by sturdy items such as drinks machines or filing cabinets

Photos: BBC

Thank you to Fire Journal reader John Brown for telling us about the May 11, 2004, explosion at the Stockline Plastics factory at Woodside, Glasgow. The accident claimed nine lives and injured about 40 others. The owner of the plant was cited for safety violations. Queen Elizabeth II commended the emergency services for their work.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

GRANDFARE - 1966


Grandfare store fire at Cowcaddens and Maitland streets in Glasgow in September 1966.