Smoke Over Glasgow

You don’t expect to wake up and see half the city centre covered in smoke, but that’s exactly what happened the other day.

Word started spreading quickly that there was a massive fire near Central Station. Before long the photos were everywhere, thick black smoke rising over Union Street.

I’ve walked past that building more times than I can count. It’s one of those places that’s just always been there and you never think in a million years it would be gone!

From what I read, around 60 firefighters were needed to eventually bring the fire under control.

I don’t get into Glasgow much these days. I tend to avoid cities now because crowded places can leave me feeling overloaded and anxious. But when I was younger, and in my early working years, I spent a lot of time in and around the city centre. That building was part of the backdrop of those years. A proper Glasgow fixture. Seeing it destroyed feels strange, and genuinely sad.

And I’ll be honest, one of the daft things I’ll miss most is the Blue Lagoon chippy. It was one of those classic spots to grab something to eat after being in town. A lot of folk will have memories tied to that place for sure.

What makes it all worse is the idea that something so major may have started from something so small and stupid. A fire like that wiping out a 175 year old building is hard to get your head around. For anyone who doesn't know, It was a vape shop that caused the fire. I doubt we'll ever find out the full truth.

It’s frustrating, because when a building has stood that long, you expect better care, better standards, and better accountability.

That’s the part that really gets me. Glasgow keeps losing pieces of itself, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. These old buildings carry history, memories, and character that can’t just be replaced with another bland unit or boarded up shell.

It’s a real shame and a real loss for the city.
Strange how places you barely think about end up being the ones you remember the most.