Fire Damages Historic Pollokshaws Church in Glasgow

A major fire tore through the historic Pollokshaws Parish Church in Glasgow's south side early Sunday morning, leaving the 182-year-old building severely damaged with its roof collapsed and walls heavily scarred. Emergency services responded to the blaze at the church on Shawbridge Street around 2:44 a.m. on December 7, dispatching multiple fire appliances to battle the flames that engulfed the structure.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service initially sent two appliances after reports of the fire, but the intensity of the blaze prompted additional units, including up to six in total and a high-reach appliance. Firefighters worked from outside the building due to the risk of further collapse, containing the flames by Sunday afternoon. Thick black smoke rose into the sky, visible for miles, but no injuries were reported. As a precaution, residents from nearby flats on either side of the church were evacuated during the incident.

Shawbridge Street remains closed in both directions as crews continue to secure the site and assess structural integrity. Glasgow City Council has advised drivers to avoid the area and use alternative routes, warning of expected delays. Drone imagery from...