Homes evacuated as fire crews tackle large blaze at primary school

More than thirty firefighters fought to extinguish a serious fire in an unoccupied school in Glasgow's Tollcross area on Tuesday afternoon.

Several homes around the derelict St Marks School, in Muiryfauld Drive, were evacuated after the fire broke out at around 2.10pm.

Emergency service workers wore masks as they attended the blaze and residents expressed fears that there is asbestos in the disused school.

A spokesman for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said: "Firefighters who arrived at the scene, at the former St Mark's Primary on Muiryfauld Drive, were confronted with a well-developed blaze.

"Firefighters entered the building and attacked the fire with main jets, before being forced to withdraw due to the intensity of the fire.

"Additional resources, including two aerial rescue pumps, were called. However, the badly damaged building had partially collapsed, and firefighters continued to tackle the fire externally.

"The fire is now contained, but operations are set to continue for some time. A full investigation into the cause of the fire will begin at a later stage."

St Mark’s Primary School was closed by Glasgow City Council in October 2010, with children being moved to other primary schools, including St Paul’s in Shettleston and St Timothy’s in Carntyne.

Graham Wallace, 44, from one of nearby evacuated streets told STV News: "The police have told us that we can't get back in. My dog is in my house and I'm worried about her she's a nervous wreck.

"I've just finished work. People on my street were told to get out their house. People have said that it's asbestos. If the building has asbestos it should have been knocked down.

"They haven't told us when we will get back in. Where is the housing association? If we can't get back in where have we to go?"

Glasgow Shettleston MSP John Mason said he hosted a meeting with local residents about vandalism and fire-raising at the derelict school last Thursday.

In response to the large blaze on Tuesday, the SNP member criticised the council for failing to demolish the building after it was no longer in use.

He said: "In one sense this fire has now shone a very bright light on the significant anti-social behaviour around St Marks Primary. Since late last year, my constituency office has been receiving a steady stream of complaints about anti-social behaviour in this area. With over 90 recorded incidents in the last three months, the statistics speak for themselves.

"When I was a councillor, Glasgow City Council had a policy of demolishing schools as soon as possible after they'd been closed. That prevented vandalism and also the fears of what could happen to a child who broke into an empty school building and could have been seriously hurt. It is disappointing that the splitting up of the council into bodies like City Property seems to have prevented what was previously a good policy.

"As a result there has today been considerable disruption and cost to the public purse because Glasgow City Council has been so slow in acting. Fortunately it seems no one has been seriously injured. The council and City Property have got some real explaining to do."

Caroline Street was closed off as well as part of Quarryknowe Street close to the blaze.

IN PICTURES

Derelict school fire

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