Cheapside Street whisky bond fire

On the evening of 28 March 1960, a fire started in a bonded warehouse owned by Arbuckle, Smith and Company in Cheapside Street, Anderston, Glasgow.

The Glasgow Fire Service was initially alerted by a 999 call at 7:15 pm from the foreman of the Eldorado Ice Cream Company, which was near the whisky bond.

Witnesses reported seeing bright blue flames leaping 40 feet (12 metres) into the sky, with the glow visible across the entire city.

[6][7] The following is a list of the firefighters and salvagemen who lost their lives in the line of duty on 28 March 1960 during this event:[8] Several awards for bravery were presented:[9] The men who were killed were buried in the rubble, but were later laid to rest in the fire service tomb in Glasgow Necropolis.

[12] Due to the ban on mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 60th anniversary commemoration was a more limited affair, signified by a wreath-laying by Chief Officer Martin Blunden alone.