This is the moment a plume of thick black smoke billowed out of a vape shop next to Glasgow’s busiest train station before the building burned to the ground.

Emergency services were called to reports of a fire at a vape shop on the ground floor of a four-storey commercial building on Union Street, Glasgow, at 3.46pm on Sunday. 

The fire rapidly spread around the corner to Gordon Street, advancing toward the main station entrance and the adjoining hotel as smoke filled the night sky.

Glasgow’s Union Street station, situated just a few yards away from the commercial building, was evacuated and closed off on Sunday, sparking travel chaos across Scotland’s biggest city. 

The station will be closed today with all journeys which were set to arrive, depart or travel through Glasgow Central cancelled or revised with some replacement services in place. 

National Rail said the station is likely to remain shut on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: ‘Timescales for reopening will only be confirmed once we are able to safely gain access and carry out the necessary checks.

‘All services to and from Glasgow Central are currently suspended, and passengers should continue to follow alternative travel arrangements as advised by their train operators.

‘We will provide further updates as soon as more information is available.’

Footage coming out of Glasgow last night showed the inferno raging through the historic Victorian building, causing the dome roof to collapse in on itself.

However, a new video posted on social media shows a cloud of black smoke streaming out of the vape shop before the fire ripped through the entire building.

Two men can be seen ushering people away from the burning shop before another ran over and attempted to quell the flames inside with a domestic fire extinguisher.

The person filming can be heard saying: ‘Oh my God, there is a massive fire happening in the middle of Glasgow.’

As she spoke, explosions went off inside the shop with loud bangs ringing out with the two men dragging the man with the fire extinguisher away just in time.

A new video posted on social media shows a cloud of black smoke streaming out of the vape shop before the fire ripped through the entire building

Emergency services were called to reports of a fire at a vape shop on the ground floor of a four-storey commercial building on Union Street, Glasgow, at 3.46pm on Sunday 

The vape shop on Union Street in Glasgow pictured before the fire destroyed it and the rest of the building

Footage coming out of Glasgow last night showed the inferno raging through the historic Victorian building, causing the dome roof to collapse in on itself 

The fire was finally put out this morning – leaving a trail of destruction

At it’s height, 15 fire engines were used to tackle the blaze, but this has since been scaled down to nine.

On Monday morning fire crews used aerial platforms to hose water onto what remained of the building, as smoke hung in the air.

Only the facade of the building at the corner of Gordon Street and Union Street is left standing.

This morning, a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: ‘We were alerted at 3.46pm on Sunday, 8 March, to reports of a fire affecting the ground floor of a four-storey commercial building on Union Street, Glasgow.

‘At its height, 18 appliances and specialist resources were mobilised. The incident has since been scaled back and nine appliances, including three high-reach vehicles, remain in attendance.

‘There are no reported casualties.’

The four-storey Victorian building, designed by architect James Brown of the firm Brown & Carrick, was built in 1851 and pre-dated the station.

The Money Shop and Wimpy once operated out of the same unit which caught on fire before it was a vape shop. 

Other companies operating out of the building include Subway, Paddypower, charity shop Shelter Scotland, Sexy Coffee cafe and Blue Lagoon Fish and Chips.

Many businesses have been destroyed in the fire, which an MSP compared to the devastation from ‘the Blitz’. Nearby hotels were evacuated and roads were sealed off. 

According to title deeds, seen by the Daily Mail, the building is part of several neighbouring outlets owned by property firm Afton Estates Limited, which paid £540,000 for the block in 2008. 

A planning application lodged with Glasgow City Council in September 2024 to convert the store into a hot-food takeaway was rejected last December. 

Companies House documents show Michael and Kenna Tasker are listed as directors of Afton Estates.

Mr Tasker is also listed as a director of the Royal Forth Yacht Club, one of the world’s oldest yacht clubs whose patron is Princess Anne.

He was commodore when the club organised a Parade of Sail to mark the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. 

MSP for Glasgow Paul Sweeney said on X that the Forsyth Building had collapsed.

He told the BBC that he ‘felt sick to see another part of Glasgow’s built environment destroyed.’

A drone image shows firefighters battling the blaze after a fire broke out at a vape shop in Union Street, Glasgow 

On Monday morning fire crews used aerial platforms to hose water onto what remained of the building, as smoke hung in the air

Only the facade of the building at the corner of Gordon Street and Union Street is left standing 

The four-storey Victorian building on Union Street, designed by architect James Brown of the firm Brown & Carrick, was built in 1851 and pre-dated the station (Pictured: The building before the fire)

He wrote on X: ‘It’s a massive blow to Union Street with the restoration of the Egyptian Halls in prospect.’

In a statement given to LBC, Mr Sweeney said: ‘I think what’s been clear is there’s some sort of fire in what has claimed to be a vape shop, clearly the fire involves lithium batteries that’s produced a highly heat-intensive thermal blaze which has caught the building.’ 

Mr Sweeney said there are now concerns for the viability of the remainder of the building, which was gutted by the blaze.

He told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme: ‘There’s the cafe, there’s the Blue Lagoon (chip shop) of course which is famous for many Glaswegians.

‘It’s been completely wiped out, destroyed. I mean the building is a gutted shell. It looks like something out of the Blitz.

‘I spoke to building control officers last night on site. They don’t have much hope that the building can be saved at all.

‘We wait and see what their final decisions are but it sounds like the remaining facade onto Gordon Street is likely to have to come down, unfortunately.’

The coffee shop that was based in the building, Sexy Coffee, posted on social media: ‘We are absolutely devastated to confirm that the shop has sadly been destroyed in the fire.

‘It is heartbreaking for us and our team, especially after the support and loyalty we have received from so many of you over the years.

‘However, we want to reassure everyone that this is not the end. We will rebuild, revamp the shop, and reopen as soon as possible.’

Some of the businesses which were destroyed in the fire have set up GoFundMe pages to raise money after ‘losing everything’.

Sam Hendry, the owner of luxury makeup studio Samuse Studio, has so far raised nearly £5,000.

On the GoFundMe page, they said: ‘I have now lost everything, my kit which I spent years building up and was expensive as I tried to offer my clients the best makeup products possible on the market, makeup brushes, kit that I have owned since I started makeup. 

‘My chairs, my mirrors, my tables, work tops, and personal items too. Everything. 

‘I have lost everything in a blink of an eye due to this catastrophe and I need to start from scratch. 

‘Any help from anyone that has the ability to do so will go towards replacing my kit and finding a new space to work from and the furnishings to help with this.

‘I can’t believe this has happened, I am heartbroken for everyone involved and thinking of everyone that has also lost their business and livelihood.’

Lucky in Love Tattoo parlour have raised almost £10,000 to replace all of the equipment and supplies the nine artist who work there lost in the blaze. 

Hundred Demons tattoo parlour was also destroyed and has so far raised more than £8,500 – with the owner admitting his insurance does not cover the damage.

On the GoFundMe page, owner Duncan Sweeney said: ‘As many of you know, our building at 111 Union St was destroyed by a fire last night. It’s been a catastrophic loss for the many businesses housed there, and my heart goes out to everyone affected.

‘Unfortunately, we’ve also lost everything. To be completely transparent – and this is a tough one to admit – my insurance doesn’t cover contents. I know. How stupid.

‘While the sentimental items I’ve collected over the years can never be replaced (prob the toughest bit), we are now facing the reality of trying to replace the essential equipment that Kate and I need to get back to work. 

‘I want to raise funds to do that with any extra going towards building a new space in the near future.

‘I loved having you all in the studio it was such a great place to tattoo / blether. So gutted it’s gone!’

The owner of Willow Hair Salon confirmed on social media her business had also been destroyed. 

Smoke billowed through Glasgow as 15 fire engines, along with police officers and ambulances attended the fire

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: ‘No trains will be running to and from Glasgow Central due to an emergency services incident at the station on Sunday 8th March.

‘An amended train service will run to Preston, Carlisle and Motherwell, enabling customers to connect with trains to Edinburgh and local services to the Glasgow area.

‘Customers are strongly encouraged to check before they travel. Tickets between London Euston and Glasgow Central will be accepted on LNER services via the East Coast Main Line.

‘Any customers with tickets dated Sunday 8th or Monday 9th March from Glasgow Central to London Euston can use their ticket on any Avanti West Coast train on Tuesday 10th March.

‘Alternatively, if you abandoned your journey as a result of the disruption you can claim a fee-free refund from where you bought your ticket.’

They added: ‘We are still working on a trainplan which will be published as soon as possible.’

Network Rail said in a statement: ‘We expect disruption to continue on routes to/from/through Glasgow Central until at least the end of the day.

No trains will run to or from the high-level platforms at Scotland’s busiest station, while trains that run through the low-level platforms will not call at Glasgow Central.

Avanti West Coast advised passengers an amended train service will run to Preston, Carlisle and Motherwell, ‘enabling customers to connect with trains to Edinburgh and local services to the Glasgow area’.

ScotRail warned of substantial disruption to its services and urged passengers to check for the latest information before travelling.

It said that no ScotRail services will operate to or from Glasgow Central high level on Monday.

ScotRail services will not call at Glasgow Central low level but will pass through the station to stop at Argyle Street and Anderson.

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: ‘We are sorry to customers for the impact this will cause, and we would urge them to check their journey options before they travel, and be aware there will be very limited replacement transport.’

TransPennine Express said its services would not run between Glasgow Central and Liverpool Lime Street or Manchester Airport on Monday, while trains between Edinburgh and Newcastle/Manchester Airport will be subject to delays and cancellations in both directions.