Staff evacuated after fire at BBC Scotland building

By Neil Pooran, PA Scotland News Editor

BBC Scotland’s headquarters in Glasgow has been evacuated after a fire broke out in the building.

The broadcaster reported that staff left the building in Pacific Quay after the alarm sounded at about 6.30 am on Monday, with the fire understood to be in a plant room at roof level.

Shortly before 9 am, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze had been extinguished, but crews were still at the scene.

A fire service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at around 7am on Monday to reports of a fire at a building at Glasgow’s Pacific Quay.

“Operations control mobilised a number of appliances to the scene, where firefighters extinguished a fire involving an air conditioning unit.

“Three appliances remain on scene with crews working to make the area safe.

“There are no casualties.”

Footage posted online by the broadcaster from earlier in the morning appeared to show flames and smoke emerging from the upper part of the building.

A spokesperson for BBC Scotland said: “We’re grateful to the emergency services for their rapid deployment on site.

“We’re working hard to ensure the safety of all of our colleagues and will restore our regular services on-air as soon as we can.”

BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast show was taken off air, with a Radio 5 Live broadcast taking its place.