The Fire Brigade was seen fighting a blaze near Glasgow Central railway station on 8 March, 2026.
Credit: Jason Fong / Strathclyde Telegraph

As Glasgow comes to terms with the loss of a historic Victorian building, these images captured by our photographer Jason Fong documented the moment the disaster unfolded and its immediate aftermath. What began with an explosion and what first appeared to be a small fire quickly escalated into an uncontrollable blaze.

By day two, the scene appeared calmer, but the scale of the damage had become clearer. While the initial shock had begun to settle, the presence of emergency crews and the visible destruction continued to show the impact of the sudden disaster that struck the heart of Glasgow.

The effects of the fire will remain long after the first two days of response and recovery. The remains of what was once a familiar part of Glasgow’s city centre now stand as a reminder of the loss, and the gap left in the city’s landscape will be felt for years to come.

Text by Julia Braun Raven

Jason Fong

Final year Journalism and English student. Photographer. Work featured on The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, Daily Mail, etc.