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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Adam Robertson

Police believe fire at former cinema was started deliberately

A FIRE at a former cinema in Glasgow is being treated as deliberate by police.

Nine fire engines and more than 40 firefighters went to the scene in Kilmarnock Road in the Shawlands area of the city when the alarm was raised at about 7pm on Tuesday.

Part of Kilmarnock Road and nearby side streets were closed while emergency services dealt with the incident at the building, the former White Elephant Cinema.

Police are treating the fire as “wilful” and appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

There were no reports of any casualties.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Around 7.15pm on Tuesday, July 11 2023, we received a report of a fire at a premises on Kilmarnock Road, Glasgow.

“The fire is being treated as wilful and inquiries are ongoing.”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said they were called to reports of a fire within a derelict building on Kilmarnock Road, Shawlands at 6.59pm on Tuesday.

An SFRS spokesman said: “Operations control mobilised a total of nine fire appliances to tackle and contain the fire.”

One appliance remained at the scene on Wednesday morning to reinspect the building for any hotspots but left at about 9.15am.

The cinema closed in 1960 and was redesigned as shops, according to cinema history websites.

Roads in the area have reopened.

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