Kilbirnie Street fire

The Kilbirnie Street fire, on Friday 25 August 1972, was a warehouse fire in the Eglinton Toll area, on the Southside of Glasgow, Scotland, which killed 7 Glasgow Fire Service firemen in a flashover while they were trying to rescue a trapped colleague. What started as a routine industrial premises fire resulted in one of the highest losses of life for the UK Fire Service at a single incident in peacetime.

The warehouse premises at 70/72 Kilbirnie Street was used as a cash and carry warehouse by the Sher Brothers company, selling textiles, clothing and household goods. It was built as a stables in 1899, but in common with much of Glasgow's industrial premises at that time, had seen numerous uses over the years. It was a brick built construction of ground, first and attic floors, connected by internal stairs and a goods lift. The first floor was of concrete construction, and the attic floor of composite steel and timber, supported on cast iron columns. Internal partitioning consisted of timber frames with hardboard lining. An external steel stair opening off the attic and first floors acted as the fire escape route. Stock was arranged on steel frame shelving and stacked on the floor. The potential fire load was considered high following a fire prevention visit in December 1971 and again in March 1972. It had been occupied by the owners since 1970.

The fire was discovered by an employee while searching for stock and appeared to have started on the attic floor. Three 999 calls were received by Glasgow Fire Service control by 11:21 AM and two water tenders and a turntable ladder were dispatched from South station, with Station Officer Carroll in charge, arriving at around 11:24. A serious fire was seen to be in progress, with smoke emitting from the building and from the roof. All staff had evacuated, and the fire brigade were faced with a serious but largely routine fire. Divisional Officer Quinn arrived soon after, and after early investigations with Carroll, called for reinforcements by "Making Pumps 4". Queens Park and West Marine Fire Stations despatched two further water tenders, arriving around 11.30.

Glasgow Salvage Corps despatched a vehicle to the scene as part of the initial attendance, and their men began their normal fireground task of attempting to protect stock from fire and smoke damage by covering with plastic sheeting. On the "Make Pumps 4" message, a second salvage tender was despatched. Crews using breathing apparatus ("BA"), searching the building for the seat of the fire, found conditions very difficult with thick smoke and the crowded layout of the premises hampering progress.

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