A LARGE fire in a Glasgow warehouse and produce market will have a knock-on effect for businesses across the west of Scotland, traders have warned.
At the height of the blaze, more than 70 firefighters were involved in tackling the flames at Blochairn Fruit Market in the early hours yesterday.
Employees at the market were safely evacuated but sales and deliveries of fruit, vegetables, fish and flowers to businesses across the country were badly impacted.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said a “good proportion” of the two-storey building was not damaged and traders were allowed to return to part of the market yesterday.
Driver James Lang, who works at the site, said: “Loads of people from Glasgow, Edinburgh and all over come in to get stock to keep shops and restaurants going. It will affect a lot of businesses today in Scotland and schools as well. It’s heart-breaking for me, I have 42 years’ history in the place because I was brought up in the market as a boy.”
Maureen Brogan, from traders J&P Brogan, said her units survived the fire but all traders will now need to “try and help each other”.
She said: “Thank God no-one has been injured, that is number one.
“We are actually one of the lucky ones, our units have not been touched. There are people who literally have nothing left and there will be people wondering if they have a job left. I genuinely feel for the other traders who have woken up to nothing.”
Brogan said evacuating the site hit her deliveries for the day, but said: “That’s not going to be a huge problem, we will survive and nobody has died or been injured.”
Fire crews were called to the property in Blochairn Road, Royston, at 3.44am yesterday.
The fire service said 12 fire engines and four aerial appliances had been involved in the operation, and speed restrictions were put in place on the nearby M8 due to heavy smoke in the area.
Deputy Assistant Chief Officer John Joyce said: “The response and professionalism from our firefighters has been outstanding.
“The fire developed rapidly – however thanks to our quick assessment and action plans that were put into place, we were able to protect not only the community from harm, but ensure that the fire did not spread further in the market.”
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