CFTimes Video
A HUGE fire ripped through Glasgow School of Art on Friday night as fire crews desperately scrambled to the scene.
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The towering furnace’s flames spread to “several properties” as over 120 firefighters attended the scene just before 11.20pm on Friday night as part of a desperate effort to bring the situation under control.
The blaze marked the second at the school since 2014.
The school confirmed the fire in a tweet on Saturday morning.
It said: “There is a fire at the Mackintosh Building.
"The fire brigade are currently on scene. We will report back with news updates as soon as possible.”
Firefighters are still at the scene.
Several buildings including the nearby O2 ABC suffered “extensive damage” as the fire continued to burn.
There are no reports of casualties, but residents living nearby were evacuated from their homes.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said the Government "stands ready to help" the Glasgow School of Art "financially or otherwise"
Nicola Sturgeon has spoken out about the “extremely serious situation”.
The Scottish First Minister stated: “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.”
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 02 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."
The school has been undergoing renovations since the previous fire in May 2014, and was due to re-open next year.
The restoration project, which was set to cost between £20 million and £35 million, was in the works after the 2014 blaze.
Labour MP for Glasgow North East and Shadow Scottish Minister, Paul Sweeney, insisted he was "devastated" the building had been plagued by flames again following its 2014 restoration.
He said: "Devastated that a major fire has broken out at the Glasgow School of Art tonight.
“The Mack has been undergoing restoration since the last devastating fire in 2014.
"Scotland Fire and Rescue are doing everything they can to salvage the most architecturally important building in Glasgow.
“The 2014 fire destroyed around 20 percent of the western wing of the building.
“This fire appears to be more extensive and affects the eastern wing of the building.”
Witnesses at the scene were shocked and saddened by the inferno.
Former graduate of the art school Rachael Docherty, 29, 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."
22-year-old John McInnes said: "I can't believe that this has happened again to such an iconic building. It's unbelievable.
"Questions need to be asked, they spent so much on renovation, but this seems so much worse than the last one."
A devastating fire took hold of the building in May 2014 in the run-up to the students' degree show.
And earlier on Friday, graduation ceremonies had taken place at the iconic art building.
Glasgow is currently celebrating the 150th birthday of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the designer of the Glasgow School of Art building.
City council leader Susan Aitken has called the fire "devastating".
Earlier this week, a mural to the architect was revealed on a wall overlooking the city’s Clutha Bar.
The Glasgow School of Art was considered by many to be Mackintosh’s masterpiece.
The blaze marked the second at the school since 2014.
The school confirmed the fire in a tweet on Saturday morning.
It said: “There is a fire at the Mackintosh Building.
"The fire brigade are currently on scene. We will report back with news updates as soon as possible.”
Firefighters are still at the scene.
Several buildings including the nearby O2 ABC suffered “extensive damage” as the fire continued to burn.
There are no reports of casualties, but residents living nearby were evacuated from their homes.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said the Government "stands ready to help" the Glasgow School of Art "financially or otherwise"
Nicola Sturgeon has spoken out about the “extremely serious situation”.
The Scottish First Minister stated: “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.”
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 02 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."
The school has been undergoing renovations since the previous fire in May 2014, and was due to re-open next year.
The restoration project, which was set to cost between £20 million and £35 million, was in the works after the 2014 blaze.
Labour MP for Glasgow North East and Shadow Scottish Minister, Paul Sweeney, insisted he was "devastated" the building had been plagued by flames again following its 2014 restoration.
He said: "Devastated that a major fire has broken out at the Glasgow School of Art tonight.
“The Mack has been undergoing restoration since the last devastating fire in 2014.
"Scotland Fire and Rescue are doing everything they can to salvage the most architecturally important building in Glasgow.
“The 2014 fire destroyed around 20 percent of the western wing of the building.
“This fire appears to be more extensive and affects the eastern wing of the building.”
Witnesses at the scene were shocked and saddened by the inferno.
Former graduate of the art school Rachael Docherty, 29, 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."
22-year-old John McInnes said: "I can't believe that this has happened again to such an iconic building. It's unbelievable.
"Questions need to be asked, they spent so much on renovation, but this seems so much worse than the last one."
A devastating fire took hold of the building in May 2014 in the run-up to the students' degree show.
And earlier on Friday, graduation ceremonies had taken place at the iconic art building.
Glasgow is currently celebrating the 150th birthday of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the designer of the Glasgow School of Art building.
City council leader Susan Aitken has called the fire "devastating".
Earlier this week, a mural to the architect was revealed on a wall overlooking the city’s Clutha Bar.
The Glasgow School of Art was considered by many to be Mackintosh’s masterpiece.