Fire crews race to scene after blaze breaks out in Airdrie

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) were called to the town's Chapel Street at around 5.10pm today (April 5) following reports of a fire, Glasgow Live reports. 

Images from the scene show the roof of the building has been destroyed with firefighters still in attendance trying to tackle the inferno. 

The street is currently closed with police also understood to be in attendance. 

Local resident Matt McCulloch alerted emergency services to the fire and helped move cars so they had access to the building.

He told the Glasgow Times: "The fire started at around 5.10pm and I made the first call at about 5.14pm because we were all unsure as to whether it was someone burning rubbish or not.

"I came back after going home 20 minutes later and it was chaos.

"The roof was ablaze and fire crews and police started to cordon off the whole area, and now at 8pm almost every entry point is cordoned off.

"Initially, when I called 999, I knew the fire crew would need access and there were a few people's cars in the way that were inside New Open Kitchen.

"I directed them to move their cars, and assisted in getting the whole area clear.

"The smoke could be seen and smelled all the way to Centenary Way by the viaduct."

He continued: "The situation escalated and the roof started to lose structural integrity.

"That's when the fire crew started to rush about with hoses and the police took a more hardline stance with the cordon, manually directing traffic and shutting off access points.

"That's when you realise how serious it is."

Matt managed to get pictures of the scene using his drone. 

He said: "I do drone surveying as well as landscape photography so I always have my drone with me, and I decided to get it up in the sky to get the footage and pictures."

SFRS and Police Scotland have been contacted for comment. 

More to follow...