BBC Scotland HQ Evacuated After Early-Morning Fire Disrupts Broadcasts
It was quite a dramatic start to the day at BBC Scotland’s headquarters in Glasgow, where an unexpected early-morning fire forced the entire building to be evacuated and sent several BBC services briefly off-air. The incident unfolded around 6:30am, just as many staff were settling into their shifts, when a fire alarm sounded throughout the Pacific Quay building beside the River Clyde.
According to officials, the blaze originated in a plant room on the fifth floor, at roof level, where an air conditioning unit had caught fire. Flames were spotted quickly, reportedly first noticed by a member of the security team who raised the alarm. From outside, staff could actually see an orange glow flickering through the upper windows beside the illuminated BBC Scotland sign, making it immediately clear that this was not a false alarm or routine drill.
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Within minutes, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service arrived on scene with at least seven fire engines. Firefighters worked swiftly to contain the situation, and the blaze was extinguished before it could spread further through the building. Thankfully, all staff were able to exit safely, and no injuries were reported.
The disruption was most noticeable on air. BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast show was abruptly cut mid-broadcast, automatically switching to back-up music—fittingly starting with Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy,” whose opening line “Run away, run away” unintentionally matched the moment. Breakfast television news bulletins from Scotland were also suspended. After around 30 minutes of continuous music, the station moved over to a feed from BBC Radio 5 Live while crews continued their work and staff waited outside.
Presenters Martin Geissler and Laura Maciver eventually returned to the studio shortly after 8:30am once the building was declared safe. When they came back on air, they openly acknowledged the unusual morning, explaining to listeners that the fire had been real, that flames had been clearly visible from outside, and that crews had now left after confirming everything was under control.
A BBC Scotland spokesperson later expressed gratitude for the fast response from emergency services and reassured audiences that the fire had been contained promptly. They emphasized that all colleagues were safe and that services were restored as soon as possible, adding a thank-you to viewers and listeners for their patience during the unexpected interruption.
By mid-morning, only a few fire service crews remained on site to ensure the area was fully secured. Despite the early chaos, BBC Scotland’s operations were back on track—though it’s certainly a morning no one at Pacific Quay is likely to forget anytime soon.
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