Chef declared hero for rushing in to exploding vape shop to try and stop Glasgow fire
(Picture: Neil Pooran/PA Wire)
A man who ran into an exploding vape shop to try and stop the fire that consumed historic buildings in Glasgow has been hailed for warning others to stay away.
Lamin Kongira tried to tackle the fire which broke out in a building next to Glasgow Central railway station on Sunday.
Footage shows the moment Mr Kongira ran into the smoke-filled shop armed only with a fire extinguisher which he had taken from the Subway next door.
He was forced to retreat from the smouldering premises by a series of explosions.
The 42-year-old chef told STV News: ‘I wasn’t thinking of myself, to be honest with you, I was thinking of the structure of that building I was in.
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‘If I could, I would save it, but unfortunately, my effort was pointless. I’ve done my best now.’
He said he stepped in because ‘somebody had to do something’ to try to save the building.
‘I heard the shopkeeper shouting that there was a fire. I looked and saw a small fire. I asked the shopkeeper if he had a fire extinguisher, but he said no.
‘I had to quickly run next door and grab a fire extinguisher from there. When that had run out, we couldn’t do any more.’
Lamin, originally from Gambia but has lived in Glasgow for 15 years, said the fire had engulfed an adapter system – full of chargers.
The Scottish city is rallying around a number of businesses which were destroyed when the 19th century building next to the station collapsed on Sunday night, with tens of thousands of pounds raised to support them.
Network Rail has confirmed the station will remain closed on Tuesday.
An MSP compared the damage to the devastation from ‘the Blitz’.
Nearby hotels were evacuated and roads were sealed off.
Only the facade of the building at the corner of Gordon Street and Union Street has been left standing.
It is thought the fire started at a vape shop in Union Street before spreading to part of the same structure.
A spokesperson for Network Rail said: ‘While the fire is now under control, emergency services are still on site and we continue to support their response.
‘The station will remain closed today and tomorrow. Timescales for reopening will only be confirmed once we are able to safely gain access and carry out the necessary checks.
‘All services to and from Glasgow Central are currently suspended, and passengers should continue to follow alternative travel arrangements as advised by their train operators.’
More than £80,000 has been raised to support a number of businesses which were destroyed in the blaze.
The crowdfunding platform GoFundMe said the sum had been raised for six firms which lost their premises in the blaze.
They included a hairdressing salon run by Joe Diaz, who fled the building when the fire began to take hold on Sunday.
He told how he and his partner encountered ‘really heavy, dark smoke’ as they fled the scene.
He said: ‘We just got our client and said, let’s just run and get out of here as soon as we can.’
People standing watching at the police cordon on Monday spoke of their shock.
Emma Reid, from Glasgow, said: ‘It’s just so sad. It’s such an iconic building. It’s so sad.’
Carolyn Bowie stopped to watch as her son was one of the firefighters tackling the blaze on Monday morning, having started his shift at 8am.
She said: ‘It’s devastating and a big blow for Glasgow.’
No injuries were reported in the incident.
Downing Street has paid tribute to the bravery of firefighters who dealt with the blaze.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘Clearly, this has been a devastating incident for Glasgow, the loss of historic buildings that have dominated the city centre for so long.
‘Our thoughts also go to those who have lost businesses and livelihoods.’