Three young men ran straight into thick black smoke and roaring flames when a massive blaze erupted in a Glasgow city centre vape shop on Sunday afternoon. Dramatic video footage shows the brave trio desperately trying to battle the fire with extinguishers before being forced back by intense heat and toxic fumes.
The terrifying incident unfolded just after 3.45pm on Union Street, only steps from Glasgow Central Station, turning a busy Sunday into chaos as flames ripped through the building and sent huge plumes of smoke across the city skyline.
Callum Robertson and Aydin Boyd, both 18, were the first to act. The two friends had just stepped off a train hoping to grab pizza when they saw a man sprinting from the shop screaming about fire.
“We came down the stairs out of the station and saw this guy running out shouting ‘there’s a fire’,” Callum told reporters moments after escaping the building. “I looked inside and saw flames shooting up. I ran across the road to another shop to get an extinguisher, but they didn’t have one.”
Undeterred, the teenagers grabbed extinguishers from nearby premises and charged in alongside another local man. Mobile phone footage captured the heart-stopping moment they disappeared into the smoke-filled shop, white foam spraying wildly as they fought to contain the blaze.
Seconds later they stumbled back out, coughing and gasping for air as the fire grew completely out of control.
Fire Tears Through Multiple Floors in Minutes
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received the first 999 calls at 3.47pm. Within minutes the blaze had spread from the ground-floor vape shop to upper floors and the roof.
Six fire engines and specialist height appliances raced to the scene. Firefighters in breathing apparatus fought the inferno for over five hours as flames burst through windows and sent burning debris raining onto the street below.
Union Street was completely closed between Argyle Street and Gordon Street. Trains continued running through Central Station but passengers faced severe travel disruption.
Vape Batteries Suspected as Cause
Fire investigators are working to establish the exact cause, but sources say the blaze is believed to have started among lithium-ion batteries and e-cigarette devices stocked in the shop.
Vape shop fires have become an increasing concern across the UK. Faulty or overcharged lithium batteries can explode with extreme force and burn at temperatures that ordinary extinguishers struggle to control.
In 2024 alone, fire services attended more than 1,200 incidents involving e-cigarettes and vaping devices, a sharp rise from previous years.
Community Praises “Absolute Heroes”
Within hours of the video going viral on social media, Callum, Aydin and the third unidentified man were being called heroes across Glasgow.
“These lads are absolute legends,” wrote one X user who shared the clip more than 10,000 times. “Ran into a burning building without thinking twice. Proper Glasgow spirit.”
Another local said: “Most people would film it on their phone. These boys tried to put it out. Respect.”
Callum played down the praise when speaking afterwards. “We just did what anyone would do,” he said, still smelling of smoke. “We thought we could stop it before it got worse. Glad no one was hurt.”
The shop owner has not yet been traced, and the building remains cordoned off while structural engineers assess the damage. Nearby businesses suffered smoke damage and lost a full day’s trading.
Another Warning About Lithium Battery Dangers
Sunday’s dramatic rescue attempt serves as yet another wake-up call about the hidden dangers of lithium-ion batteries in everyday devices.
Experts say these batteries can enter “thermal runaway”, a chain reaction that causes temperatures to spike to over 600°C in seconds, making fires almost impossible to extinguish with standard equipment.
The Glasgow incident mirrors dozens of similar blazes in vape shops, phone repair stores and e-bike outlets across Britain in recent years.
Fire safety officers are once again urging businesses and members of the public to follow strict charging guidelines and never leave devices unattended while charging.
The courage shown by three ordinary Glasgow lads on Sunday afternoon saved what could have been a far worse tragedy. In a city that has seen its share of disasters, their selfless actions remind everyone what community spirit really means when seconds count.
What did you think when you saw that video? Would you have run in to help? Drop your thoughts below and share this story using #GlasgowHeroes if you’re proud of these brave young men.
