Following the catastrophic fire in Glasgow, John Swinney has announced intentions to tighten regulations on vape retailers.

The First Minister expressed his support for implementing new licensing and safety measures after confirming that a vape store was the origin of Sunday’s inferno.

Footage capturing what appeared to be ‘explosions’ at the shop adjacent to Glasgow’s Central Station has been described by Swinney as ‘extremely unsettling and worrisome,’ prompting serious concerns regarding public safety.

He also promised that the Scottish Government would provide financial assistance to the SNP-led Glasgow City Council to aid in the recovery from this ‘immense event.’

In light of the incident, Reform UK has suggested a ‘temporary ban on the sale of disposable vapes’ until a thorough investigation into the fire’s cause is completed. Additionally, Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Sweeney remarked that the fire poses ‘serious concerns’ about the proximity of vape shops to ‘essential national infrastructure.’

Meanwhile, a courageous bystander who attempted to extinguish the flames shared with the Daily Mail that the fire reportedly originated from a ‘bank of chargers under the counter.’

The UK Vaping Industry Association have said it was an ‘isolated incident’ but also advised its members ‘to check their fire risk assessments’.

Scotland’s busiest rail station and the surrounding streets remained closed on Monday as firefighters doused smouldering ruins using water pumped from the River Clyde.

First Minister John Swinney surveys the devastation in Glasgow’s Union Street

Firefighters doused the burnt out building in the wake of Sunday’s inferno

The UK Vaping Industry Association have said it was an ‘isolated incident’ but also advised its members ‘to check their fire risk assessments’

Shocking snaps showed the fire in full force

Mr Swinney was one of several politicians to visit the Blitz-like scene on Union Street and Gordon Street. 

A blackened, tumble-down facade was all that remained of the B-listed Victorian corner site after flames ripped through its four storeys and brought down its dome.

Mr Swinney said it was a ‘minor miracle’ there were no serious injuries and paid tribute to the emergency services.

He said had an ‘open mind’ about how to respond once the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service had investigated its cause.

The First Minister said: ‘I’ve seen some imagery of the immediate circumstances of the incident, which looks to have started in a vape shop.

‘Some of the explosions around about that are deeply unnerving and concerning.

‘There will be a range of issues that emerge as a consequence and the government will be open-minded about looking at all of those questions to make sure we come to the right conclusions.’

Asked if more needed done around licensing of vape shops and the fire safety regulations applied to them, Mr Swinney also told broadcaster LBC: ‘I don’t want to pre-judge the investigation but I’m sympathetic to that point of view.

‘The scale of damage… that appears to have started in a vape shop raises significant questions for us.’

He added: ‘An incident of this type is obviously going to give rise to significant costs.

‘The Government is willing to engage with Glasgow City Council about the further financial support that is required.

‘The Government will be a player in the recovery.’

Assistant Chief Officer David Farries of the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service said a ‘huge effort’ was required to stop the ‘very intense fire’ spreading to a nearby hotel.

Confirming firefighters were ‘mobilised’ to an incident in ‘a vape shop’ at 3.46pm Sunday, he said: ‘We need to understand the nature of the fire and understand why the fire spread the way that the fire did.’

Reform UK Glasgow City Councillor Thomas Kerr said: ‘Following the devastating fire, Reform UK Scotland is calling for the temporary removal of disposable vapes from sale while a full investigation is carried out.

‘Vape shops have become increasingly common.

Smoke continued to fill the air in the city in the wake of the fire

Smoke was seen pouring from the building before the inferno erupted 

‘The impact of today’s fire on nearby businesses and commercial premises has been catastrophic.

‘We must now ask what could happen if a similar incident were to occur in a residential building.

‘This is a serious safety issue, and the country cannot afford to ignore the risks these shops, and the storage of large numbers of vapes and batteries may pose to our communities and businesses.’

Mr Sweeney told the BBC that videos of the fire included sounds ‘like lithium batteries popping off’, creating a ‘thermally vicious fire’ which consumed the timber building.

On next steps, he said: ‘It starts with the council about licencing these vape shops, planning, about whether we need more restrictions on the location of these types of shops next to critical national infrastructure and historic buildings.

‘Whether the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service needs to do more proactive inspections of these kind of shops to make sure there’s proper storage and safe storage of these items.

‘Whether there’s limits on the amount of stock that could be held by one retail unit.

‘There are significant concerns that Scotland’s busy station can be wiped out by this kind of situation.

It’s opened up a real blind spot in our consideration about these type of retail units.’

But Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said increased regulations or licensing for vape shops may be ‘a little bit premature’.

He said: ‘We need to allow the authorities to properly investigate what the cause of the fire was, what the response to the fire was, and what might be done better.’

Concil leader Susan Aitken, also urged caution.

She said: ‘We don’t know exactly what’s caused it. We need to have some level heads.

‘We need to focus first and foremost on public safety. We also need to be focused on people’s livelihoods and getting the city back up and running.’

Asked about tougher vape shop regulation, she said: ‘It’s way too early to think about that.’

But the Scottish Greens said the fire highlighted potential risks associated with the lithium batteries in vapes.

A man initially tried to tackle the blaze with a single fire extinguisher

Much of the Victorian building was destroyed in the fire

Glasgow MSP Patrick Harvie said: ‘We don’t know the full details about how the fire began, but the initial coverage raises serious questions about the regulation of vape shops and if they should be allowed to operate so close to major transport hubs.

‘Scotland cannot continue to let harmful industries operate with fewer checks than a corner shop selling alcohol.

‘Storing cheap, mass-produced batteries is inherently dangerous, so stronger regulation and scrutiny of businesses doing so is urgently needed.’

John Dunne, Director General for the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), said: ‘This is an isolated incident and, while the exact cause of the fire has not yet been established, even one case like this is one too many.

‘While we await the findings of the full investigation, we will be proactively engaging with the fire service and relevant authorities to understand what lessons can be learned to help ensure the highest possible safety standards.

‘We are also advising all our members to check their fire risk assessments and to get in touch with their local fire authorities to seek any further guidance.

‘The UKVIA has long advocated a robust licensing scheme for vape retailers, including provisions to ensure the highest possible safety and compliance standards, which is now being considered as part of the [UK] Tobacco and Vapes Bill.’

Network Rail said Glasgow Central was likely to remain closed today and reopening ‘will only be confirmed once we are able to safely gain access and carry out the necessary checks’.