Battle begins to save fire-hit Army building

Firefighters battled through the night to save Paisley’s former Territorial Army building and drill hall after a blaze tore through it.

Teams tirelessly battled the blaze for hours after it broke out on Wednesday afternoon.

The cause of the blaze, which started around 3.30pm, has still to be eastablished by specialist investigators.

Much of the roof was destroyed, with firefighters using an aerial appliance to douse the flames from above.

There were no reports of casualties.

A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said the local authority is working with the buildings owner’s to make the area safe.

He said: “We can confirm the section of Paisley High Street in front of the Territorial Army building has now reopened following the fire there on Wednesday afternoon.

“A contraflow is in place.

“Pedestrian access is open on the university side of the street, but the footpath closest to the TA building is closed.

“Our officers were on site again yesterday morning to assist the emergency services and the building owner’s contractors to make the building and area around it safe for the public.

“We will continue to work with the owners to help them ensure as much as possible of this historically-important building can be retained.”

Firefighters worked through the night to bring the fire under control and give the building a chance of survival.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “We were alerted at 3.33pm on Wednesday to reports of a vacant building on fire on High Street.

“Operations control mobilised three fire appliances and a height appliance to the scene, where crews worked through the night to contain and fully extinguish the fire.

“There were no reported casualties and a small number of firefighters remain in attendance as they work to make the area safe.”

The late 19th-century building, which is on the Buildings at Risk Register, was one of the jewels in the crown of Paisley’s architectural heritage.

Designed by architects TG Abercrombie, the building was erected for the Renfrewshire Militia, which later combined with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Latterly, it was occupied by the Territorial Army and Army Careers.

It has been empty for around two decades and had fallen in to disrepair.

Planning applications to turn the site into student accommodation had recently been under consideration by planners.