Glasgow art school: 'Devastating' blaze tears through iconic building four years after it was ravaged by fire

Glasgow’s world-renowned art school has been devastated by another huge blaze, just four years after part of the building was destroyed by fire.

More than 120 firefighters were called to the scene at around 11.15pm on Friday night. Around 50 were working to extinguish the fire late on Saturday morning.

Flames quickly engulfed the historic Mackintosh Building and spread to “several properties”, the fire and rescue service said, including a neighbouring music venue, the O2 ABC.

There are no reports of casualties, although nearby homes have been evacuated.

Images of the aftermath showed the art school’s roof and upper floors had been destroyed. Local residents reported being able to feel the heat of the fire from a number of streets away.

Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish government was “ready to offer any help and support we can”, and described the scene as one of “utter devastation”.

In the early hours of Saturday, the first minister wrote on Twitter: “Once again, we are indebted to the bravery of our firefighters and other emergency services.

“This is clearly an extremely serious situation. My first thoughts tonight are for the safety of people – but my heart also breaks for Glasgow’s beloved [School of Art].”

A restoration project, which was set to cost between £20m and £35m, had been returning the famous Category A listed building to its former glory after a devastating fire in 2014, with Brad Pitt and Peter Capaldi among those lending support.

Deputy chief officer Iain Bushell said: “This is an extremely challenging and complex incident, but the response and professionalism of our firefighters has been exceptional.

“The fire has taken hold several properties, including the O2 ABC nightclub causing extensive damage.

“This will be a prolonged incident and crews will remain on the scene as they work to prevent further fire spread and damage.”

Former students at the art school spoke of their disbelief and sadness.

Margaret Archbold, 48, a Glasgow artist who studied fine art at the school and graduated in 1994, said she had come down to the cordons around the building to “say goodbye”.

“It just keeps getting kicked in the teeth. It shouldn’t have happened again,” she said. “It was graduation day yesterday for this year’s students. I just feel really sorry for the fire brigade because they worked so hard to save it the last time.

“I came down to say goodbye actually, I thought there was nothing left, and I was quite an important time in my life. I’m an artist and my uncle’s an artist – he studied here too – and I just needed to come and see it.”

Rachael Docherty, 29, a former graduate of the art school, said: “This is terrible. This is a lot worse than the last one. We were out earlier on and at 12am we came out it just looked like [it was] fireworks and now it’s just white smoke.

“The Mac building is a piece of Glasgow history, it’s not art school history, it’s Glasgow.”

The fire at the building, which was designed by artist and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and built between 1897 and 1909, was called “devastating” by city council leader Susan Aitken.

Paul Sweeney, shadow Scotland minister, said the Mackintosh Building was the “most architecturally important building” in the city.

He added: “The best we can probably hope for is structural facade retention and a complete rebuild of the interior. Devastating.

“There must be a comprehensive national effort to ensure every possible option to salvage and restore what is one of the finest edifices in the history of world architecture is pursued in the wake of this latest setback.

“I’ll be doing everything I can to promote that in parliament.”

Mr Mundell tweeted he was “devastated to hear news of fire at Glasgow School of Art”.

Additional reporting by PA.