Gambiaj.com – (GLASGOW, Scotland) – A Gambian man living in Scotland has spoken of the traumatic moments he tried—unsuccessfully—to stop a devastating fire that destroyed a historic building near Glasgow Central Station.
Lamin Kongira, a 42-year-old chef who has lived in Glasgow for 16 years, attempted to put out the blaze after it broke out at a vape shop along Union Street on Sunday afternoon.
Kongira said he was walking along the busy street when he heard a shopkeeper shouting that a fire had started in the store. On approaching the scene, he noticed flames emerging from behind the shop counter and immediately felt compelled to act.
Believing that “somebody had to step in,” Kongira rushed into the shop in an effort to save the building.
“I wasn’t thinking of myself, to be honest with you. I was thinking of the structure of that building I was in,” he told STV News.
Realizing the shop did not have a fire extinguisher, Kongira quickly ran next door and grabbed one from a nearby Subway outlet before returning to confront the flames. However, his attempt proved insufficient as the fire rapidly intensified.
“When that had run out, we couldn’t do any more,” he said.
Moments later, the situation worsened when an explosion erupted inside the shop. Kongira said he then realized the blaze was beyond control. He fled the premises just before a second explosion occurred and immediately began urging passersby to move away from the danger zone.
Footage circulating on social media shows Kongira directing members of the public away from the scene as thick smoke billowed from the building.
Within hours, the fire had engulfed the entire block at the corner of Gordon Street and Union Street, leaving only the facade of the B-listed building standing.
Emergency services mounted a massive response to the incident, with more than 200 firefighters, 18 fire engines, and specialist resources deployed at the height of the blaze.
The fire destroyed several businesses housed in the historic structure, which Kongira said held deep personal significance for him.
Having passed the building almost daily since arriving in Glasgow in 2008, he described it as part of his life in the city.
“After 15 years, every day I passed by this building,” he said.
“It’s something that is also part of me living here for 15 good years, so this building is part of me. If I could put my life on the line to save it, like what I did yesterday, I would do it.”
Despite his brave attempt, Kongira said the experience has left him shaken.
The incident has drawn attention on social media, where many have praised the Gambian chef’s courage and selflessness in trying to save the historic building and protect members of the public from harm.
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