Glasgow's School Of Art Badly Damaged By Fire

Fire has caused "significant" damage to a historic art school building in Glasgow city centre.

Crews were called to reports of a blaze at Glasgow School of Art's Charles Rennie Mackintosh building at about 12.30pm.

It is believed the fire started in the basement and spread to the upper floors where flames were seen leaping from windows and the roof.

The blaze is now being damped down but early assessments say most of the interior of the Category A listed building on the corner of Renfrew Street and Scott Street has been destroyed.

Flames can clearly be seen coming from the windows. Pic: @xdxxnx/Twitter

There were no reports of casualties but a number of people had to be helped from the building.

Sky's James Matthews said the blaze is believed to have broken out while final year students were preparing their end of year degree shows on the upper floors.

Many of the students whose work has been lost were in tears as they witnessed their efforts go up in smoke.

Broadcaster Muriel Gray, a former student and current chairwoman of the school, was another who burst into tears as she arrived and saw the building in flames.

The art school, designed by the famous Scottish architect and dating from 1897, is a tourist attraction and is regarded as a building of "national or international importance".

It attracts around 20,000 visitors a year, with tours given of the building.

Hugh Thornhill, a second year student, said: "I was helping one of the fourth years set up their exhibit and suddenly the alarm went off. We saw smoke coming out and realised that it was really bad.

Broadcaster and current art school Chairwoman Muriel Gray was in tears

"All that effort is gone, everyone's work on that side of the building is ruined. The degree show next month is pretty much a bust now, it's sad."

Second year student Clare Reilly said: "Four years of work is gone for all those students, the deadline was at 5pm today."

As well as renowned artists, former students include members of the bands Travis and Franz Ferdinand, Architect and TV presenter George Clarke and actors Peter Capaldi and Robbie Coltrane.

Travis lead singer Fran Healy tweeted: "Man the mac library is all wood!!!! And loads of paper!! Man!!"

George Clarke said: "Devastating to see the Glasgow School of Art in flames...I'll support its full restoration in any way."

Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Glasgow School of Art. Pic: Finlay McWalter

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) described the blaze as "an international tragedy".

Chief Fire Officer at the scene Alasdair Hay said some items had been salvaged but it was too early to say exactly what had been destroyed.

He said: "Part of our operation is to try and salvage what we can and we worked with colleagues from the school who identified objects of significance that they would like us, if possible, to save."

He said efforts were underway to save as much of the fabric of the building as possible but he could not say if any of the students work could be recovered.

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