Major blaze rips through row of shops in Glasgow

A ROW of shops has been partially destroyed by a large early morning blaze.

The fire ripped through stores in Archerhill Road in the Knightswood area of Glasgow at around 2am.

Fifty firefighters were called to the scene and found that the blaze was well-developed and had already broken through the roof. They had to withdraw at one stage due to the intensity of the fire.

Some of the flat-roofed buildings, which comprised of shops that included a hairdresser, dentist and news-agents, were gutted outright as the fire tore through them.

Crews were drafted in from Yorkhill, Maryhill, Dumbarton and Govan helped to bring the flames under control using ground-level hoses and a high-reach appliance.

At its height, more than 50 firefighters and eight appliances were in attendance at the scene. Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service has yet to determine the cause of the blaze.

A statement said: “The building, comprising of nine shops, was severely damaged by the fire and a determination will be made later today regarding the safety of the structure.

“Police and fire investigation teams are working together to determine the cause of the blaze.”

Fire crews remained at the scene throughout yesterday, with Archerhill Road closed to allow them to work.